• This refers to the editorial ‘Black Boxes’. Since the goal of a democratic polity is to work for the greatest good of society, Indian political parties have proved themselves to be self-indulgent and abusive of power. Politicians, the electorate, party agendas and the law have become instruments to that end. Our political parties are either dominated by individuals or by families. Arjun Singh’s claim that he had pledged his loyalty to the Nehru-Gandhis decades ago is a slap on the face of those who refute the charge of the Congress being a Nehru-Gandhi fiefdom.

— M.C. Joshi

Lucknow

Ego takes aim

• This refers to the editorial ‘Carry on Doctor’. The timing of the amendment to the AIIMS Act, fixing the age limit of the director to 65, was uspicious. From its inception, the AIIMS had been India’s premier medical institute.

Therefore, to say after all these years that the amendment was meant to clear the murky business of appointing directors, left no one in doubt about the health minister’s intentions. Anbumani Ramadoss is better advised to improve India’s pathetic health care rather than persist in hounding Venugopal.

— Rakesh Khullar

Chandigarh

Judicial rescue

•The apex court’s ruling on the AIIMS issue is not just a victory for P. Venugopal but also for the power and process of judicial review. Although Parliament possesses the sovereign power to enact legislation the judiciary is within its rights to strike down laws if it finds them malafide and flawed.

... contd.