II

Lakhs of children, who have either dropped out from schools or have never been to any educational institution, will now get education.

For education to be a meaningful it must be available, accessible and relevant. Besides, it should evolve with the changing needs of society. Most education experts agree that more money will be needed to implement the Act.

R KAPOOR, Solan

III

Efforts of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are appreciable. However, the government must make people aware of this right, especially in the remote areas. 

Its proper implementation not only in public schools but also in private educational institutions should be monitored. The Centre should provide ample funds to the state governments, which must ensure quality education. Let us hope that the RTE Act will put an end to child labour.

NAVRAJDEEP SINGH, Nabha

Review quotas

Indeed the time has come to review all kinds of quotas (editorial, “Bane of India”, March 27). For the benefits of reservations have not reached the needy. Politicians thrive on emotive issues and now a vicious cycle of vote-bank politics has emerged.

Years of experience has shown that instead of removing caste-based discrimination, quotas have polarised our society more than before. Many new caste-based political parties have emerged on the political horizon and are posing a serious threat to social harmony. 

Religion based quotas would be more dangerous, as we have already seen the division of our country on the basis of the two-nation theory. There are only two sections of society in the modern times and they are haves and have-nots. If quota is necessary for development, it should be only on the basis of economic backwardness.

ARVIND DHUMAL, Jalandhar

Cash at door

In view of the increasing cases of corruption in the judiciary, the Centre ought to inform people about the judges’ misconduct and subject them to close scrutiny (editorial, “CBI on the mat : Probe the judge-bribery scam properly”, March 30). Any attempt to push the matter will be counterproductive. If wrong doers are allowed to go scot-free, corruption is going to take strong roots in the judiciary too.

The case makes one believe that corruption is being patronised at the top and that it has many sympathisers in the corridors of power. An ordinary citizen of the country is bewildered that anti- corruption laws operate only against petty officials. The crusading zeal of advocate Anupam Gupta, who made his contribution to this case first as a senior standing counsel of the UT and thereafter as counsel for the Bar Association, is laudable.

The authorities concerned who are trying to scuttle this probe are jeopardising the existence of India whose foundations are threatened by the termite of corruption.

S C CHABBA, Patiala

II

Special CBI Judge Darshan Singh deserves appreciation for his refusal to accept the CBI’s “closure report” in the cash at judge’s door case. It strengthens the suspicion that the CBI acts according to the wishes of political bosses of the day and is no more an independent investigating agency.

When the CBI found Justice Nirmal Yadav to be the recipient of a bag containing Rs 15 lakh in the course of its investigation, its U-turn raises eyesbrows about its functioning. The enquiry report submitted by a three-member committee set up by the CJI should be made public.

TRISHLA GARG, Panchkula