Undermining basic tenets of justice by denying bail

Refer to news report ‘5 yrs in jail, Umar, Sharjeel bail pleas junked’; it is deeply concerning that the accused have spent nearly five years in jail while their trial has not yet begun. Denying bail under such circumstances goes against the fundamental principle that bail is the rule, jail is the exception. The prolonged incarceration without commencement of trial amounts to punishment before conviction. This undermines both the presumption of innocence and the very spirit of our Constitution which guarantees liberty. Our courts must ensure that constitutional safeguards are not reduced to empty words. Such legal decisions erode faith in the fairness of the judicial process.

Naresh Kumar Nijhawan, Karnal

Towards self-reliance

Refer to ‘Chip hopes’; the ongoing Semicon India-2025 conference highlights the country’s growing ambition to become a major force in the global semiconductor industry. International and domestic companies are beginning to view India as a reliable and competitive base for this high-tech sector. The vision of chips made and designed in India reflects both self-reliance and global integration. Semiconductors are at the heart of modern technology, and India’s emergence in this space will have a multiplier effect on employment, exports and digital leadership.

Vandana, Chandigarh

India’s semiconductor leap

Refer to ‘Chip hopes’; ISRO’s pathbreaking success in producing India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, enough to run devices smoothly, is remarkable. Chips, the brain of modern electronics, open vast opportunities for the country. However, India’s share in the $600-billion global chip industry is modest, at around 8%, while Taiwan and other nations are calling the shots. Even as $18 billion has been invested in projects, India must bolster R&D, ease business and reduce dependence on Chinese imports. Japanese investments and India’s strong base of engineers could ensure that it secures a major place in the global chip industry.

Amarjeet Mann, Una

‘Vikram’ heralds a new dawn

In a world where silicon writes destinies, India has struck its first resolute chord with ‘Vikram’, its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor. AI-driven recognition, biomedical sensing and energy harvesting will herald a nascent silicon renaissance. Yet the distance between ambition and authority is vast. India imports over 90% of its semiconductors, even as domestic demand races toward $110 billion by 2030. Vikram is a dawn, not a destination. India must weave vision, industrial scale, R&D and mastery of design into a seamless tapestry, or risk remaining a silent observer as the silicon century unfolds elsewhere.

Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital

Ensure contract parity too

Refer to ‘Level playing field’; the ICC’s landmark announcement on pay parity in World Cup prize money is welcome, but one cannot ignore the glaring gap that persists in annual retainerships. Boards often find novel ways to save money, and in women’s cricket, this is most evident in the absence of an A+ category. While male cricketers in the A+ bracket earn Rs 7 crore a year, women’s top-tier contracts stand capped at just Rs 50 lakh. Even men in the A category receive Rs 5 crore — 10 times more than what women cricketers get. This disparity undermines the very spirit of equality the ICC has championed. Prize money reforms, though symbolic, risk becoming cosmetic if not backed by structural changes in central contracts. India, which took a bold step by introducing equal match fees, must now ensure contract parity too.

Harsh Pawaria, Rohtak

Take action against violators

Apropos of ‘Toxic sludge spills on to lanes, houses in Ludhiana’; the Buddha Nullah mess has again exposed the failure of the administration and the pollution control board to implement remedial measures suggested and mandated by the NGT and the High Court. Bureaucratic inaction and political impediments have paralysed enforcement. Citizens are being exposed to grave health hazards while officials escape accountability. Nothing short of criminal action against negligent officials and industrial violators will restore public confidence.

Amarjit Singh, Mohali