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Return to work

The Supreme Court finally threatened to crack the whip by initiating contempt proceedings against the striking doctors if they did not call off their stir. It is seized of the issue, which is now sub judice in nature. It is therefore hoped wiser counsel will prevail and all the medicos will return to work and wait for the verdict of the highest judiciary. They have sufficiently and forcefully brought to the fore their point of view.

R. Ramachandra Rao,
Hyderabad

Not withstanding the justification or otherwise of the strike, the Supreme Court's observation that the matter is sub juice and hence there can be no strike runs contrary to the basic rights enshrined in the Constitution. Can a public interest litigation petition stifle the democratic right of the people, trade unions or associations to agitate, protest or go on strike?

Y. Collison,
Chennai

When the Supreme Court gives a verdict, the same can be over-ruled by Parliament. Does it invoke the contempt clause then?

S. Anand,
Chennai

All the striking doctors, including students, should call off their agitation in the larger interest of the people. They can resume duty wearing black badges to remind everyone that they are still in the protest mode. At the same time, I do not agree that the anti-quota agitation is itself unjustified. The striking students are not against affirmative action. They are only demanding a non-political review of the effect of the reservation policy.

Prasenjit Sen,
Howrah, W.B.

The determination of students to continue the strike despite the Supreme Court's warning to uphold what they believe — that the proposed quota hurts the larger interests of the nation — is commendable. It reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi's submission to the Champaran magistrate when he was hauled up for defying orders to leave Champaran: "As a law-abiding citizen my first instinct would be, as it was, to obey the order served upon me. But I could not do so without doing violence to my sense of duty to those for whom I came."

P.V. Maiya,
Bangalore

I agree that the doctors should now go back to work as their demands have been met (editorial "Get back to work," May 30). The people have been affected badly by the strike. The issue has assumed such proportions because the comfort zones of a few have been affected by the Government's proposal to give 27 per cent reservation in higher education to the OBCs. Do they have any idea of the condition of those who do not even know what their constitutional rights are?

Amit Balhra,
Rohtak, Haryana

It is quite reasonable for students to insist on a written assurance from the Government because the general category students have so much to lose if the promises are not carried out.

Why should the Government shy away from giving a written assurance unless it does not have a clear executable plan of action?

M. Mandal,
Hyderabad

We all know how much governments keep their promises. Unless talk is matched by action, it would be unwise to stem the agitation. All talk of increasing seats came only after the protests.

Preran Kurnool,
Chennai

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