The Hindu : Govt. has no right

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 20, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Govt. has no right

Sir, — Let not the Executive undo what the Legislature has done. This is the message conveyed through the Supreme Court verdict on HPCL, BPCL disinvestment. Many in the NDA dispensation interpret the verdict as one pertaining exclusively to HPCL and BPCL. The judgment has pointed out that the Governments of the West had to get privatisation laws enacted before privatising State-owned institutions. Going by the spirit of it, any discerning person will know that assets created with peoples' money cannot be sold off by Governments. The people have a right to be consulted in appropriate legislative forums.

M. Joseph,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — The ruling has been blown out of proportion. The judgment is to do with the firms acquired through the ESSO Act or similar legislative orders. Applying it to public firms such as MUL and Modern Bakery is illogical. Disinvestment should be used to hive off non-performing public sector undertakings. It should not be treated as a revenue generating means.

Vaibhav Mathur,
Jhansi, U.P.

* * *

Sir, — Disinvestment will help our economy recover faster. The judgment will actually slow down the reforms process. At this take-off stage, our economy is likely to collapse if the Government programme on disinvestment comes to a halt for some reason.

N.V.S.N. Murthy,
Secunderabad

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