This refers to the wise decision to issue 10-rupee coins to gradually replace notes of this denomination to save the high printing-cost and low life of these notes. It is not understood why the Union Government took the reverse decision to re-introduce five-rupee currency notes when coins of this denomination were in circulation and popular.

There is no sense in having coins of non-metric 25-paise especially because this coin cannot be further sub-divided into 5-paise coins which are no more in circulation. Two-rupee coins have always been of an unpopular denomination, and as such should not be minted any more. Concentrating on a limited number of coin-denominations will ensure better availability of coins with smoother coin-management. Coins should be in limited denominations of 10 and 50 paise, and of Rupees 1, 5 and 10.

The government should ensure that even special commemorative coins may be only in the most popular denominations of one rupee and five rupees. However a higher-priced silver-alloy coin of 100-rupees or above may be issued to mark the occasion. But in no case, should coins of unpopular denominations like 20-rupees or 50 rupees be issued.

Just one type of commemorative coin-set should be issued comprising of all the coins issued on the occasion. But these coin-sets and higher-priced silver-alloy coins should be conveniently available at many sale points including selected branches of nationalised banks, all philatelic counters and offices of the Reserve Bank of India right from the date of release of new coins. Coin-collection should be popularised by discontinuing the cumbersome and expensive practice of getting coin-sets only by advance booking to be received years after release of the new coins.

Ravi Arora
New Delhi

Right to Die

I have read with interest the article relating to 'Law on the Right to Die' (The DayAfter, December 16-31, 2002). I fully agree that such a law should be made. I personally feel that it is wrong to assume that this will be inhuman or against the belief of religion and life. When age becomes a burden on life, what could be the pleasure to continue to live. In most cases, the person concerned is not in a position to express his desire that his life may be terminated. In such cases, the patient is either dying slowly painfully, usually in a stage of a permanent coma, and even the doctors are of the opinion that the illness is incurable. I am of the firm and strong opinion that this facility of terminating life under very special circumstances should be allowed. I also refer to the suggestion made by H. D. Shourie, whom, have had the pleasure of knowing for almost 40 years. However, the paper he has suggested can be executed only by a person who is in the mental and physical position to execute such documents. But as stated above, in most cases, the patient is not in a position to express his desire. This should be best left to the close relatives (though this may be a difficult decision for them to make) and medical advice in the best interest of the suffering patient.

M. M. Agarwal
New Delhi

Demolition

This refers to the shocking demolition of about 50 shops in the historical Chandni Chowk of Delhi by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Interestingly, while all encroachments and unauthorised shop-extensions were removed in the disciplined era of the Emergency, these century-old shops were not objected to even at that time.