Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

He is right

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's contention that courts have no power to intervene in the expulsion of the 11 MPs in the cash-for-query scandal is technically and logically correct. Our Parliament has done what may not be possible even for the U.S. Congress. We, the people, should be proud of our parliamentarians.

Hari Bharathi,
Virudhunagar, T.N.

Parliament's action of expelling the MPs may be a beginning in defending values in public life. Both the Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman deserve praise for the bold decision. The widespread support for their action shows there is still hope for democracy in our country.

E. Sivasankaran,
San Jose, California

It would be disgraceful for the expelled MPs to prefer an appeal in the Supreme Court. Here is requesting them not to tarnish the image of the temple of democracy further by catapulting the scam to centre stage again.

Anoop Kuriakose,
Kanjirapally, Kerala

Mr. Chatterjee may be right in saying Parliament has exclusive jurisdiction to decide on the procedure and disciplinary matters with regard to MPs. But his stand that there is no question of submitting to the jurisdiction of the judiciary is rhetorical. Why should he rush to guard his turf? The judiciary may dismiss the MPs' appeal.

Col (retd.) C.V. Venugopalan,
Palakkad, Kerala

The issue is not the expulsion of MPs but the manner in which action was taken against them. Right or wrong, the people repose greater trust in the Supreme Court than in politicians. Mr. Chatterjee will do well to remember that.

Arun Srinivas,
New York

The judiciary most certainly has the power to review whether Parliament is functioning in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. If the judiciary, for some reason, feels the expulsion is beyond the powers vested with Parliament, it can strike it down. That Parliament can counter it with a suitable amendment is a different matter. Even the amendment would be open to judicial scrutiny. The Speaker's statement is premature.

N.S. Sankararaman,
Chennai

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