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Judges’s election: Let collegium system prevail

The government must keep a watch over the appointment of judges and evolve a mechanism to remove corrupt judges rather than change the collegium system (Article “Should the executive Judge?”, August 6). Since long, the government has been eyeing the opportunity to bring about a change in the prevailing collegium system by including the executive. It held consultations with legal experts who suggested a change in the existing mode of appointment without giving solid reasons.

Without legal knowledge, the executive is incapable of judging the calibre of lawyers and judicial officers. Therefore, the executive is not competent to recommend judicial appointments. Moreover, the judges appointed through the executive process cannot be expected to be free from political influence.

The judiciary is acknowledged as the embodiment of honesty, integrity and impartiality. Therefore, the exiting system is better. However, the tarnished image of the judiciary has compelled the government to seek a change in the collegium system. The Chief Justice of India and CJs of all the states altogether must maintain strict surveillance and scrutiny over the collegium system. Prior to the appointment of judges, their antecedents must be verified and advocates with doubtful credentials must be kept at bay.

HARI CHAND SHANKER, Advocate, Ambala Cantt

Medical negligence

The pressure of population on health infrastructure is not an acceptable argument in defence of the increasing number of deaths caused due to medical negligence (editorial “Avoidable deaths”, August 10). It is rather stupid to justify medical negligence with such an excuse. Medical negligence occurs when a health care provider turns away from the accepted standard of care and causes physical or mental injury to the sufferer or a patient’s death.

Attention must be paid to curb medical negligence first, rather than searching for how the defaulter doctor be punished. Many a times it is not the doctor but the paramedical staff whose non- seriousness claim lives of patients. A survey to assess negligence in both private and public hospitals  at the national level is a must.

Monetary compensation is not enough, cancellation of the licence of the errant doctor must be made mandatory so that such incidents are not repeated.

The present state of affairs of the medical community signifies that it is health care which needs healing first.

KSHITIJ GUPTA, Narwana

Learning from US

MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s plea that Sikh liberties are under threat due to their resemblance to a certain community no more holds water as the episode occurred in a gurdwara and no where else where their identity could be mixed up.

Also there is no point in seeking the reason for the killings, which is apparently racial. American flags flying at half-mast, President Obama’s assurance to the Indian PM of non-repetition of such incidents and US diplomats consolation of Sikh community  in a Delhi gurdwara are a rare precedent.

Capt (Dr) Mohinder Singh, Patiala

II

There was no blame game as happens in India or any cover up with the FBI classifying the attack as domestic terror. This approach of America is highly appreciable and our country should learn from its conduct. If such an inter-religion killing would have taken place in our country, our leaders democratic not in a literal sense, would have calculated the vote bank politics and then take sides accordingly. It is action during these types of situations that define and test the true character of the country.

AMANVIR SINGH TIWANA, Patiala

Advani’s error

The editorial “Storm in a tea cup”, (Aug 10) rightly points to the avoidable pandemonium in the Lok Sabha. Advani might have used the word ‘illegitimate’ figuratively, while Sonia Gandhi interpreted it literally. There are many other synonyms Advani could have used. Ruckus was raised in the Lok Sabha and tempers ran high. Though Advani later withdrew his comment, but the harm had been done. When an important issue like the Assam ethnic clashes is being discussed, petty egos spoil the debate. The country comes first; precious time of the Lok Sabha should not be wasted on useless and meaningless things.

SUSHIL GOYAL, Ahmedgarh