With reference to ‘Blame the bureaucracy’ by EA Ramaswamy (January 3), we should differentiate between policymakers and implementers. Illegalising high-value currency without adequate and speedy replacement was the handiwork of top bureaucrats and RBI officials. The fallout was borne by bank staff and the police. The way they coped deserves praise. The real test for bureaucrats at all levels now is how soon income tax authorities will detect the sources of deposited black money and how efficiently they will prosecute the big hoarders.

YG Chouksey

Pune

Targetting voters

Narendra Modi is copying Jayalalithaa’s practice of freebies and cheap pricing policy for the poor. Yes, the sops he announced are a trailer of the forthcoming Budget. Modi never waits for the Budget — as and when he feels like it, he announces schemes for the poor people. It is good that the list of such schemes is endless. From where will the money come for these? Naturally, from tax payers. Where is the account of unearthed black money, and the results of tax raids? One should not expect a soft Budget. Whatever concessions are offered shall be taken back some other way. The net impact of cash savings is the moot question.

Mahesh Kumar

New Delhi

True picture

Whilst the macroeconomic aspects of the hidden facets are correctly presented in ‘What they don’t tell you about digital payments’ by CP Chandrasekhar and Jayati Ghosh (January 3), what needs to be presented are the true costs to the end consumer or customer. The cost of PC, mobile, printer, router, UPS outgo every 3-4 years would be ₹75,000. Sofware, anti-virus, broadband connection, paper, toner and customer support would come to ₹27,000. Then there are monthly costs, operating costs (which could be reduced by using free open source software), and unpaid time spent on handling power outages, poor customer service and so on. It’s clear there are many hidden or unaccounted for costs in going digital.

We need to have a judicious mix and use both cash and digital modes of payment in India. It is simplistic to say white money is digital and black money is cash, as being suggested by the Government.

Ramesh Padmanabhan

Bengaluru

Right step

The Supreme Court clarification on service charges by restaurants is timely. It was expected that levying service charge would result in the abolition of tips. This causes unrest among the staff and is a headache for the management. The receiving of tips is undignified; the system is being widely abused.

It is arguable that it reduces profitability and it has even been alleged that the way in which the system is being practised in India scares away tourists or at least causes annoyance. If the payment of tips were purely voluntary, it could be justified, although it would still be unfair to those working behind the scenes. Despite service charge, tipping has not stopped. Hence discarding it is a step in the right direction.

HL Kumar

New Delhi

Contempt of court

The Supreme Court has correctly shown the door to BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke on charges of perjury and contempt of court. But the million-dollar question is: Can it do the same for all contempt of court cases?. For instance, had the Supreme Court followed the contempt of court proceedings against the Karnataka government for defying its orders on sharing Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu, the problem would have been resolved by this time.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

Unfair criticism

The Government has done a good job about weeding out corruption, and deserves praise for its demonetisation effort. It is only natural that the impact on economy as a whole in the short run will be negative. Even medicines have their side-effects. Does this mean that medicines should not be taken?

Milind Phadtare

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