The auction of some coal blocks appears to be fetching the exchequer more than Rs.2 lakh crore and the government may end up getting Rs.15 lakh crore in total for all blocks ( >“SC stays trial court order summoning Manmohan ,” April 2). The revenue from the spectrum auction is also likely to be a very healthy figure, vindicating the estimation of losses by the CAG. It is clear that the whimsical decisions by the UPA in these areas are what bled the exchequer and led to a loss of credibility both within India and internationally. The point I wish to make is that since all these cases and the trials under the existing law are proving to be time-consuming, the BJP government should have a “National Accountability Commission” which will deal with such scams and speed up legal proceedings.
N. Ramamurthy,
Chennai
There is still hope that the legal system works (“ >ED attaches Marans’ assets ,” April 2). Though such actions have been taken after so much time, one hopes that the truth will prevail. It also shows why the DMK, when it was a part and parcel of the UPA, insisted on running certain ministries like Telecommunication and Shipping.
A.G. Rajmohan,
Anantapur
It may only spell temporary reprieve for Dr. Manmohan Singh and the others, but the points argued by their counsels before the court raise very pertinent questions about invoking criminal laws against executive decisions at the highest levels, especially in the absence of any “whiff” of quid pro quo . In this case, the Prime Minister, who was in charge of the coal portfolio, approved allocation of certain coal blocks to a company on reconsideration of the company’s representation solidly and understandably backed by the State Chief Minister. This by itself, by no stretch of imagination, should be construed or seen as the decision-makers and the beneficiary having entered into an act of criminal conspiracy. Even worse is the levelling of a more grave charge of “breach of trust” by a public servant. The top court must now spell out binding guidelines for the subordinate court on initiating criminal proceedings against a public servant for what may later be held as wrong decisions though there is no trace of mala fide intent.
S.K. Choudhury,
Bengaluru
