SALARY OF JUDGES

Conference of Chief Justices presided by Chief Justice of India being held in New Delhi while demanding 10-fold hike in judges’ salary has exposed yet other ambiguity in report of Sixth Pay Commission when it was revealed that salaries of chairpersons of regulatory bodies such as SEBI, TRAI, CERC, CCI and IRDA was recommended at exorbitantly high at rupees three lakhs per month, much-much higher than that recommended for Supreme Court judges or even Chief Justice and President of India while these chairpersons are at par in status with Supreme Court judges. Interestingly, demands from all unsatisfied quarters are being raised to modify recommendations of the Pay Commission not for being unsatisfied with their increased pay-packet, but to bring it at par with those who will get exorbitantly higher pay-packet. Instead of burdening the exchequer by an anticipated appeasement for all by a political body of Group of Ministers, an expert-body should be constituted to re-examine report of Sixth Pay Commission including even considering downward-revision of pay-scales of categories like chairpersons of regulatory bodies. Move will take care of unsatisfied categories that are unhappy only because some categories are blessed to be more happy!

Chartering his own course

In my opinion Congress is a dying party unless new blood is infused. The old stalwarts are either too flabby to do the hard work that is required to build a party or too used to living in reflected glory. Someone with charisma has to make the sacrifice and toil hard under the sun and humid conditions that prevail in the country. It is good to know that Rahul Gandhi has chosen this role for himself. Even more heartening is to know from your story that he has decided not to depend upon the reports and briefings that his advisers might give him. There is nothing like a first knowledge of conditions and challenges that the people face everyday. This will help him and his party immensely and he needs to be encouraged and congratulated for the courage of conviction that he has demonstrated.

Prateek Srivastava
Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi.

 Sri Lanka’s Tigers in Crisis

Even if the claims of the Sri Lankan government and army are exaggerated one can safely say that the LTTE is no longer the force it used to be. Its decline, a few spectacular attacks here and there notwithstanding, demonstrates that there is no alternative to dialogue. In fact, this long drawn battle too would not have been possible if India had not fueled the separatist movement in the mistaken belief that by doing so it was keeping a serious mischief away from its shores. The killing of Rajiv Gandhi brought out the true nature of the movement and it is only appropriate that it has finally found a match in skills in President Rajpakse. Clearly Prabhakaran has been outwitted and other politicians too are refusing to fall in his trap.

T.R.R. Mahadevan, Koramandalam, Bengalru

Gangtok a Unique Experience

India is truly a blessed country. It has the blue oceans and the dusty deserts and mountains that seem to be in constant conversation with the sky and the gods. Places like Sikkim need to be given more publicity as they give joy to the beholder and a sense of being part of the bigger society to the inhabitants in that remote area. I am sure that any one going there will, like me come back a chastised person having being in communion with the glories of the nature. However, I must add that the Government of India needs to be doing more to increase the connectivity as well as building better infrastructure.

Madahavi Kochhar, Sector 36, Chandigarh

When Shakespeare Became a Cricketer

Your comparison of Sachin Tendulkar is imaginative but interesting. Come to think of it any body who has played cricket at that level for as long as Sachin has done needs must have gone through various phases of his life. After reading your theory it strikes me that the changes in attitude towards life has to be reflected in his game. It was being amply demonstrated by the little master in Australia if earlier we had missed noticing it. Students of literature would understand what it is to be a Prospero and truly Sachin has been wielding the magic wand to direct the ball in all the corners and then asking the fielders to fetch the ball. Let us all pray that he is around til the next world cup so that India has a realistic shot at the Cup!

Sukhjit Singh Bhullar, Model Town, Jalandhar