•As a long-time reader of your paper, I was delighted to find you publishing three handsome tributes to

J.L. Sinha, following his death, by Shanti Bhushan (who argued for Raj Narain), Ravi Kiran Jain (a senior advocate of Allahabad high court) and social scientist Yogendra Yadav.

However, to say that Justice Sinha showed courage through his celebrated judgment is to insult him. A judge is, by definition, an impartial person while in his robes. Thus viewed, Justice Sinha, through his verdict reminded Indira Gandhi, then prime minister, of the axiom, “May you be ever so high, the law is above you.” And he was made to pay a heavy price by the Congress in being denied elevation to the post of chief justice of a high court.

— M.K.D. Prasada Rao

Ghaziabad

•Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha, who passed away at 87 a couple of days ago, was known for his courage of conviction and ranks among the most upright judges of India. In his historic judgment, Justice Sinha gave the verdict that unseated Indira Gandhi on charges of corrupt poll practices. He maintained strict court decorum through his order that no one should rise from his seat when the accused prime minister entered the courtroom. Even her security personnel were asked to wait outside, and her security was handled by bar members. Angered by this, Indira Gandhi ordered the Emergency on June 25, 1975, suspending fundamental rights, arresting opposition leaders across the country and gagging the press.

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