Varied interpretation by courts

Refer to ‘Letdown for Abhaya’; the death penalty has been a point of debate all over the world, including India. The global tendency is towards abolition of capital punishment. However, Indian law still insists on the death penalty for a number of offences. The Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional validity of the death penalty but with a stipulation that it should be awarded in the ‘rarest of the rare’ cases i.e. in extreme circumstances depending on the brutality of the crime, conduct of the offender, etc. Different courts interpret extreme circumstances of the case according to their own understanding.

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KR Bharti, Shimla

Need to dig deeper

Apropos of ‘Letdown for Abhaya’; CM Mamata Banerjee’s claim that the Kolkata Police would have ensured the death penalty in the rape-murder case is contrary to the perception of complicity of the hospital authorities. The judge has flagged several lapses and pointed out illegalities that need to be addressed. To showcase that the law is equal for all, it is imperative to dig deeper than the ‘lone wolf’ narrative. The onus is on the Centre and the higher judiciary to ensure justice for the helpless victim of the grisly incident and identify the people who destroyed vital evidence and sheltered the culprits.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Concern for Indian techies

Apropos of ‘H-1B and tariffs’; the editorial rightly highlights the challenges posed by Trump’s return, particularly regarding H-1B visa policies and trade tariffs that threaten India’s $128-billion IT industry and trade relations. The decline in H-1B approvals and proposed changes to visa requirements have exacerbated concerns for Indian techies; besides, Trump’s tariff threats risk destabilising crucial sectors like pharmaceuticals. However, India must leverage its growing role in the US ‘China-plus-one’ strategy to bolster trade ties and explore avenues for H-1B reforms. India’s leadership would have to adopt a nuanced approach to navigate the new dynamics.

Harbinder S Dhillon, Una

Proactive diplomacy needed

Apropos of ‘H-1B and tariffs’, the whole world, including the closest allies of the US, are at tenterhooks over Donald Trump’s presidency. Despite his numerous pledges and threats in recent months, Trump may not walk the talk. Some tall promises have to be made to woo voters and win elections. He may not go ahead with retaliatory tariffs on India and his tight immigration policy may not affect our tech professionals much. Proactive diplomacy can ensure that trade and talent remain the pillars of a robust US-India partnership.

Roshan Lal Goel, Ladwa

Create humane work culture

Refer to ‘Lives not machines: Human cost of overwork’; it highlights the alarming consequences of relentless overwork. Prominent figures like Elon Musk and Jack Ma operate from positions of privilege, free from the mental burnout caused by incessant deadlines, scolding, roasting or workplace insults that employees frequently endure. The article signifies the need for a humane work culture that respects boundaries, promotes work-life balance and prioritises mental health. By implementing policies like flexible working hours, mandatory breaks and mental health support, organisations can strike a balance between achieving goals and valuing employees’ health and wellbeing.

Ashok Singh Guleria, Kangra

Learn lessons from other nations

With reference to ‘Lives, not machines: Human cost of overwork’; people around the world are desperately chasing monetary dreams. However, a tiny country like Bhutan has replaced GDP with GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness) to live happily, as people there live amidst nature with minimum needs. People in Europe are demanding only four working days in a week. In a world of cut-throat competition, humankind is fast drifting away from nature, peace and pleasures of spending leisure time. With robots, computers, smartphones and AI dominating our lives, the complications are shooting up.

BM Singh, Amritsar