Contempt of court

It is unimaginable that shop-owners with the support of local politicians and the public have broken MCD/police seals on their shops.

It is unimaginable that shop-owners with the support of local politicians and the public have broken MCD/police seals on their shops. There is no fear of the law. Do these people realise they are flouting the Supreme Court’s orders? The culprits must be punished for contempt of court.

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Divya Chandran
Delhi

II

It is correct that the ‘law has been flouted for years with such impunity that the illegality has become the norm’, but it isn’t as if the courts have woken up all of a sudden. For the last 16 years, the Delhi High Court has been pronouncing orders for demolition for violation of building by-laws.

The Supreme Court order was made on a petition that is now more than 20 years old. Through these years, it was the political agenda of the ruling party or its allies that was served without caring two hoots for the judiciary.

J.R. Lal
via e-mail

III

If Ajay Maken’s game of easing things for law-breakers in Delhi is allowed to succeed, then the message given to the rest of the citizenry will be that one is a fool to follow laws. There must be restraining orders on politicians who are making matters worse for citizens. The government’s job is equally to ensure that alternative areas are provided for the shops. Failing this, authorities must be prepared for a mass uprising, which may be difficult to control.

Political goof-up

Rajdeep Sardesai’s article Inner voice, outer space (March 31) made interesting reading. There can’t be an iota of doubt that Sonia Gandhi’s move to resign her parliamentary seat was nothing but political expediency. The decision was driven by the intention to save her party from yet another goof-up.

P. Shashidharan
via e-mail

Shamed by sports

It is shocking that the IWF has again been suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF suspended, future shock, March 30). It is a pity that the federation does nothing to change its working.

There should be strict punishment for those found guilty for this state of affairs. It is no less criminal an act to embarrass the nation at an international forum.

Bal Govind
Bareilly

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