In praise of Supreme Court

In praise of SC
Prime minister Manmohan Singh's indirect warning to the judiciary to remain within its limit is obviously linked to the discomfort of the Supreme Court putting the government in the dock in cases like the 2G scam, black money of Indians in foreign banks, and the controversial appointment of PJ Thomas as the CVC ('Mind Lakshman Rekha, PM's subtle reminder to judiciary', February 7). The executive is required to function with absolute integrity and propriety for the common good of the people and the country. Judicial intervention comes only when the executive acts in an arbitrary manner. In a country riddled with rampant corruption, events in Tunisia and Egypt should be an eye-opener for our callous and self-serving political leaders. If the judiciary fails to make the government accountable, same could happen in India. 
—MC Joshi, Lucknow

Infringing laws
Recently, many cases of infringement of rules in case of land and its development have come to light. The important question is, why do the concerned authorities allow such buildings to come up in the first place? I know, from long experience, that even if a mere scaffolding is put up on a building for essential repairs, in any ward; an inspector from that ward immediately appears, demanding municipal fees or alternatively, “a bribe” to avoid the same. So then, how can entire high-rise building be constructed without being noticed for months, even  after completion? Are the appropriate authorities not given the powers to stop such construction when the foundations are being installed? This is nothing but a well-oiled machinery for extracting bribes. Unfortunately, the laws have been designed by the lawmakers to protect themselves and not the public and they will not allow any amendments in the Constitution which could jeopardise their powers.
—HR Vakil, via email

Underground car park
This is with reference to 'Civic body may go underground for parking', (February 8). This concept, although expensive, is the only way to resolve the current car parking space shortage in Mumbai. The rise in the number of cars is alarming. A legislation could be incorporated by the BMC to the effect that any high-rise building in the city should only be sanctioned for construction only if it provides for underground parking facility.
—Bikram Banerjea, via email

Protect our resources
It is an unpleasant fact that infiltration and subversion of the public system by private interests has become a deep-rooted phenomenon ('Pune land scam bigger than any other: HC', February 8)? What the people expect from a government in a democracy is an honest admission of mistakes, and some soul-searching for the reasons the system's in-built checks and balances have failed to stop such cheap appropriation of scarce public assets by corporate interests. As of now, the CAG comes into the picture only after serious irregularities have been spotted. Its role should be expanded from that of a post-occurrence investigator to a concurrent auditor, empowered to oversee if the policies are being properly implemented.
—S Valli Rajan, Mumbai

Root out corruption
This is the best time to follow the example of the Egyptians and Tunisians to uproot the inflation as well as corruption from India forever ('A fortnight of revolution', February 8). Corruption is the root cause of inflation in India. People from all walks of life affected by it, leaving aside political ideologies, religions, languages, castes and so on, ought to join this agitation. The nation direly needs pro-people, pro-countrymen patriots and visionary diplomats to run the nation smoothly.
—Hansraj Bhat, via email

Educational reforms

In the overall interest of students, academics should get precedence over the
politicians who own educational institutions and are holding up education
reforms ('Politicians are hurdle to edu reforms : Sibal', February 8). The Union HRD minister, Kapil Sibal, should not hesitate to introduce education reforms which are in the best interest of students.

Reforms in education sector are necessary if our country has to progress, and the honourable minister should ignore those politicians' objections, who are interested only in their personal benefits.
—Jitendra Kothari, via email