Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

President's powers

This refers to the article "What are the Indian President's powers?" (June 6). If the President is indeed a glorified rubber stamp, why did Parliament add a proviso to Article 74 (1)? It is time to delineate the specific circumstances under which the President can or cannot return a bill.

G. Jayapal,
Kurnool, A.P.

* * *

Getting an Acting President to sign a proclamation of President's Rule in nine States in one stroke sounds, even retrospectively, very unhealthy. If the President was contemplated to be a figurehead, the founding fathers would not have drawn up an elaborate procedure for his election. They would have made the President's post a nominated one, as that of Governor.

K. Panchapagesan,
Ridgewood, New Jersey

* * *

No doubt B.D. Jatti was a Congressman and owed all the positions he held to the party. But it is difficult to believe that a person of his standing would have declined to sign the proclamation because it would mean the death of the Congress (I). Article 356 has always been a subject of debate and the Centre's intentions have always been in doubt.

K.K. Cherian,
Bangalore

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