The Supreme Court deserves rich praise for asking CBI Director Ranjit Sinha to stay away from the ongoing 2G spectrum scam probe considering his dubious role (Nov.21). Sadly, the country’s premier investigative agency stands discredited.
It is clear that the CBI is in dire need of autonomy as various governments are prone to interfere in its working. The Narendra Modi government would do well to appoint a new CBI chief who has impeccable integrity and a credible track record.
P.K. Varadarajan,
Chennai
Some time ago the Supreme Court observed, with a sense of pain and anguish, that the CBI was a “caged parrot”. As Mr. Sinha has been found misusing, abusing and overusing his constitutional position in a manner detrimental to the national interest, his continuance as CBI chief will further dent its image. Probity in public life is an integral part of criteria for any constitutional position. He must step down rather than cling on like a limpet.
Lakshman Ramamoorthy,
Mumbai
The order has come a trifle late in the day, but better late than never. Since Mr. Sinha has just a few days more for superannuation, he may swallow the insult. But the court’s order is a boost for the functioning of the much-berated agency. The bottom line is that Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion.
Ganapathi Bhat,
Bengaluru
Mr. Sinha has shamed the powerful agency. Ironically, when he retires in December, he will no more be a “caged parrot” and is likely to fly free and get away with all the murky things he did in order to save the accused and derail the much-hyped 2G investigation.
C.V. Venugopalan,
Palakkad
... and on juvenile law
This refers to the reports, “Juvenile law too liberal: SC,” and “SC calls for stiffer penalties for grave juvenile crimes,” (both Nov.21). There is a saying in Telugu, Bala vaakku Brahma vaakku , which means that what a child says is equivalent to the word of the creator. Our epics mention instances where children were relied upon for evidence in tricky cases. The practice of relying on children as “tamper-proof” witnesses is still in vogue in village panchayats. Top officials in temples are chosen through lots picked by a child. There was a time when children were children, pure and innocent.
But times have changed, and in matters of crime children have been found to act in a manner worse than adults. As far as juvenile convicts are concerned, they are often found to display no remorse. Therefore, the Supreme Court is right in saying that juvenile laws are inadequate in handling the severity of crimes committed by children. Extending the benefit of age to children who indulge in heinous acts is an abuse of the law. It is time juvenile acts are revisited and fresh definitions drawn in order to facilitate accurate dispensing of justice in crimes that involve children. The report of a mentally unstable person in the U.S. not being spared by the judiciary should also awaken us to the ground realities of crime and children.
Sivamani Vasudevan,
Chennai
