Letters to the Editor

Obviously, Gaba would not want us to forget the spell of brutal madness that made a section of the people in Gujarat temporarily lose their humanity and decency. Do the votaries of Parzania want Gujarat to remain mired in self-pity and self-condemnation for all time, instead of trying to restore normalcy, mutual understanding and trust? What do they want to prove and achieve by constantly reminding us of the hell that hit Gujarat in 2002?

Shouldn’t we build defences against the possible resurgence of that hell — not through films like Parzania, but by inculcating the spirit against the tragedy of Parzania?

— M. Ratan, New Delhi

Posted on justice

• Apropos of your editorial, ‘Judicial correctives’ (IE, February 10), it is a sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy that the intelligentsia has started discussing issues like integrity in the higher judiciary. Judges must conduct themselves in conformity with the highest standards of morality and jurisprudence. But the vital question is whether our system provides for any impartial and respectable scrutiny of the conduct of judges. Is it not ironical that the judiciary should also resort to the ludicrous measure of transfer, as is done in the executive administration? If we follow this practice of transferring an allegedly tainted judge from one court to the other, some courts may emerge as ‘prized’ postings, while others may be shunned as ‘inconvenient and unproductive’.

— Ved Guliani, Hisar

• The recent transfer, on grounds of judicial errors, of Justice B.L. Sethna from the Gujarat High Court to the Sikkim High Court, besides being superficial, is likely to generate an anti-mainland feeling in the fringe states. People here may interpret the action in a negative manner — as if the country’s rulers believe only they deserve inferior personnel. This will not help the process of psychological integration, which is more important than just physical inclusion.

— N.K. Das Gupta, Kolkata

Striking error

• This is in regard to the second cricket ODI between Sri Lanka and India at Rajkot, in which India lost the match by five runs in spite of being in a commanding position throughout the match. India lost it in the last few balls, and the momentum of the game shifted in favour of the touring team. In the end it was 12 balls and 14 runs and Anil Kumble was on strike with Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the other end. The pressure of giving strike to Dhoni was such that Kumble could not take a single for the first four balls in a row. And ultimately, when he did get the single, it was too late. Dhoni had to take a single in the last ball to keep the strike with him. This penultimate over got India just two runs and Dhoni was left to score 11 runs off six balls under tremendous pressure. Team India needs to do better, if it wants to win matches.

— Krishna R. Patel, Narsinghpur, MP