Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On enlightenment

The article "Who will produce judicial enlightenment?" (April 12) is right in saying there exists dissonance among orders pronounced by different judges adjudicating on similar issues. The Supreme Court's interim stay on the implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher education is against its own earlier verdict accepting the same level of reservation for OBCs in government jobs! Enlightened and balanced criticism of the judiciary as done by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should be welcomed rather than criticised.

Shahabuddin Nadeem,
Bangalore

Dr. Singh's criticism is certainly a political over-reach, which clearly shows the Indian political class is not interested in respecting the country's basic operating principle — the rule of law. While the political class is at liberty to cross the Lakshman rekha often, the judiciary cannot go beyond the rulebook.

S. Seshadri,
Chennai

The only example in the article is the Allahabad judge's order on the minority status of Muslims in U.P. Except that, there is little to illustrate the absence of judicial enlightenment. If we compare the enlightenment of the political class with that of the judiciary, one would plump for the judiciary any day.

Srinivasan Venkataraman,
Petaluma, California

Although the working philosophy of the judicial leadership may be flawed to some extent, the judiciary's orders with respect to reservation and the sealing drive appear rational. Considering the politics of caste and political patronage provided to unauthorised constructions, it becomes essential for the only organ of the state that is not driven by political compulsions to act promptly to save the disintegrating society.

Praveen Kumar,
New Delhi

The article creates an impression that when the legislature or the executive errs, the judiciary steps in but when the judiciary errs there is none to remedy it. Everyone is aware that when a lower court errs, there is the higher court for appeal and when a single judge errs, there is the division bench to provide corrective action. There is really no need for further safeguards.

K.D. Viswanaathan,
Nashua, New Hampshire

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