L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

No need for separate courts

The articles “Haryana’s bid for a High Court” by Saurabh Malik, “A matter of compulsion” by Mohan Jain and “How a common HC came into being” by Rajindar Sachar (Oped Law, July 3) were apt and informative.

I agree that every state has a right to have its own high court and, as such, even Haryana must have a high court of its own. But the question here is the location of a separate high court for Haryana. Surely, if the present Punjab and Haryana High Court is bifurcated, “then the jurisdiction over Chandigarh will be vested in the Delhi High Court.” That would be absurd. Chandigarh residents will never agree to such a proposal as it would not be practical.

While Haryana insists on having a separate high court in Chandigarh itself, Punjab doesn’t want this arrangement because its claim over Chandigarh will be adversely affected. The question of a separate High Court for Haryana is a complicated issue. Thus it would be more appropriate to continue with the existing system of a combined Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh, which serves the legal concerns of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. This alone is the best option.

R K KAPOOR, Chandigarh

AJIT SINGH, Windsor, Canada

Life is a game Life is really like a game of football described accurately by Vimal Sumbly in the middle “The game of life” (July 5). Like the game of football, there are many ups and downs in our lives. Sometimes we win and often we lose but the journey of life continues. Similarly, our team-mates are like our family members who help us when we are caught in adverse situations. When we get what we want, we rejoice but when something unexpected happens we feel disappointed. ANKITA SHARMA, Hoshiarpur

Purposeless bandhs

The editorial “Misdirected bandh” (July 6) rightly exposed the Opposition’s hypocrisy on the oil price hike. The so-called “Bharat bandh” organised by the NDA and the Left parties can never be justified on the touchstone of rationality. The United Front government enjoying outside support of the Left parties first notified the deregulation of oil prices in 1997 and the BJP-led NDA freed up petrol and diesel prices in April 2002.

Will the Opposition tell the nation about the reasons of its turnaround now? No one can be in favour of price rise of essential commodities. But, exploiting people’s sentiments without suggesting any substantial solutions amounts to political immorality. Moreover, the Centre alone can’t be held responsible for it. The states, including those ruled by the Opposition, can’t escape their responsibilities.

The government should also try to evolve a consensus on ticklish issues. But the Opposition must not have a one-point programme i.e. to corner the government without substantial solutions to problems. It must remember that the government has the mandate of the people to rule the country.   

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

II

The editorial has rightly called the bandh a non-issue and an attempt to squeeze political mileage. The bandh by the Opposition seeking the rollback evoked a mixed response.

It is impossible to understand how a bandh would benefit the nation, other than showing the muscle power of the Opposition and boosting the ego of the parties who called it? How is it going to help arrest the price rise? The forcible disruption of economic activities never benefits people. The one who ultimately suffers and pays for this political extravagance is the common man.

HARJEEV KUMAR KHANNA, Ferozepur City

III

Those opposing the bandh on the ground that it has resulted in enormous financial loss, forget that the government never listens or cares unless people resort to protest. The government alone is responsible for having forced this situation on the country.

It has been proved more than once that the government is for the rich and by the rich. The whole economy seems to be working in favour of making the rich richer. It is true that Indians have a lot of patience, but the day is not far when people shall revolt.

ASHOK HURIA, Chandigarh

IV

Strikes, bandhs and agitations only cause harassment to the public and monetary loss to the nation. The loss of Rs 13, 000 crore, on account of the recent Bharat bandh, is not a small amount and this amount could have been put to better use, may be to establish an industrial project or to give employment to a number of jobless persons. In fact, the common man is not in favour of bandhs. If at all, the Opposition wants to agitate, there are other ways, like peace marches, etc.

MANA FEROZEPURI, Ferozepur City