Not a good idea

Every right comes with a duty (“ >For a more inclusive ballot ,” Aug. 8). A person convicted of a crime loses his right to vote. Barring undertrials from voting in elections may not be justified as they are innocent until proved guilty. But if they are allowed to vote, they should also be allowed to contest elections.

When a worker is booked in a case (even a false one), his employer terminates his services even if he is not proved guilty. The same rule should hold good for politicians.

Koyalkar Narsingh Rao,

Hyderabad

How is it justified to ask for the enforcement of the right of one who is not willing to respect others’ rights? How can a person convicted of a crime be expected to choose the best candidate when he cannot make a right choice in his own life?

Ashwani Yadav,

Durgapur

The very idea of putting a criminal behind bars is to punish him for the crimes he has committed, and to take away the privileges enjoyed by others. There is no point in giving statutory rights to those who break the law readily and do not perform their fundamental duties.

The Supreme Court’s judgment in Jan Chaukidar rightly addresses the criminalisation of politics.

Anamika Kumari,

Patna