Though late, the Bombay High Court judgment will act as morale booster to thousands of human rights activists and people who fight against the deadly virus called communalism (“HC upholds life for 11 in Bilkis Bano case”, May 5). Two things need to be stated. One is state patronage of the accused, which has emboldened criminals to go to any extreme. The assumption of ‘national power’ by these very same forces has created a similar situation across the country. The judgment might help in arresting such a trend. The intolerant nature of these extreme forces is slowly becoming a formal way of thinking of society as a whole. This will lead to a breakdown of the rule of law. The court’s stance should now help in social activism against such brutal acts and ensuring that the rule of law applies to all.
K. Baskar,
Chennai
It is a pity and the stark truth that in Indian courts, the wheels of justice take a long time to move. It all boils down to the fact that courts are overloaded with pending cases. There is a danger that flawed judgments may lead to a miscarriage of justice in many cases. Vacancies need to be filled up and all manpower needs addressed.
N. Visveswaran,
Chennai
The survey of 434 cities shows that Mr. Modi’s dream of a clean and green India is slowly taking shape. The fact that waste collection and solid waste processing, and checking open defecation were among other criteria of measurement shows that we are progressing on sound lines. It is a good sign that there is awareness all over the country to make the dream of a clean city come true. Cities that haven’t made the grade should work hard to improve their ratings.
C.K. Subramaniam,
Navi Mumbai
