M A I L B A G

PIL, the right medicine

Manish Chibber has drawn attention to a crucial issue of concern for the common citizen — PIL (Spectrum, March 11) for which he deserves a word of appreciation.

The judicial activism of pubic interest litigation (PIL) certainly possesses the potential of proving panacea for all ills of Indian economy, including in-built corruption in the executive, judiciary and legislature, pollution of all kinds such as behavioural, interrupted supply of goods and services with its implications for quality of work and life and governance at all levels of operation.

To promote a cadre of advocates for filing PILs, there is a strong case for income tax exemption of a specific amount for them. They deserve to be honoured with awards and cash prizes. PIL is a model to get justice with reduced waiting period of judgment in cases of common concern. The idea of PIL is worth using because justice delayed is justice denied.

There is a strong case for sensitising the society at large, which has lost faith and confidence in the judicial system due to long delays. Every sincere effort to reduce the delay in granting justice is a welcome step and must be supported by one and all.

The selection of judges for listening to PIL is one of the crucial decisions, which must be taken with utmost care and should be above criticism of any kind under a well thought out transfer policy. It is capable of converting pessimism into an environment of optimism for creating a work culture needed for development all around in various sectors of the economy.

Prof M. M. GOEL, Kurukshetra

Quacks galore

In his letter, “Quacks flourishing” (Perspective, March 18), Narinder Singh Jallo very rightly laments the scourge of quackery which is damaging the  health of the people. It is an acknowledged  fact that the health services in most states, especially in the rural areas, are in  a state of disrepair.

The state governments have deployed huge funds on setting up of hospitals, health centres, sub-health centres and provided necessary infrastructure, but they remain the exclusive preserve of wild animals and anti-social elements as the doctors and the para-medics prefer to play truant. The seniors look the other way for various reasons. This forces the patients to seek the help of quacks.

This has been going on for too long now and it is time for the powers that be to think of other options. Outsourcing the health delivery system could prove beneficial to the tottering health services.

M.K. BAJAJ, Zirakpur

Laudable, but…

In his letter, “Give Central police units their due” (Perspective, March 11), P.S. Bedi, a retired DIG of Border Security Force, has quoted the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s statement regarding the BSF’s services to the nation. In fact, it was a normal political statement.

I do acknowledge the laudable role of the BSF. However, to call the BSF as no less than the Army is an overstatement. For, the BSF is neither trained nor equipped to do tasks performed by the Army.

Lt-Col CHANAN SINGH DHILLON (retd), Ludhiana

Influence of books

I have read with interest Khushwant Singh’s “The art of living by the book” (March 17). It imparts knowledge by quoting the biography of Bertrand Russel, a great thinker.

The writer has aptly said that the books he reads influence man’s mind and they shape his destiny. Gandhi, in his formative years, read the book Return to earth by Just and Unto this last by John Ruskin and imbibed the essence of these books.

RIKHI DASS THAKUR, Hamirpur