If what the special public prosecutor asserts is true (‘Jaya case: did the judge get the math wrong?’ by R Ravikumar, May 13), then such a grave mistake is astonishing and shameful. When there was a gross variation in the calculations made by the Trial Court and the High Court, should there not be a counter check to eliminate possible errors? The normal practice is to prepare a reconciliation statement. Whether it is a mistake of manipulation or error of interpretation, both are unpardonable.

How can we rely on court verdicts, if culprits are let free on mere technical grounds, as in recent cases involving corporate heads, film personalities and politicians? Where do ordinary folk go for justice? It should be made mandatory for the accused to prove their innocence.

RS Raghavan

Bengaluru

The error made by Justice CR Kumaraswamy in calculating the total of bank loans taken out by J Jayalalithaa and her associates is grave. A wildly inaccurate mathematical calculation of this kind in an appeal court’s verdict is unheard-of. It is unbelievable that any appeal court can do the maths wrong and on this basis overturn conviction by a trial court. An error-free computation would have left the appeal court with no option but to uphold the conviction by the trial court. The ‘flawed’ verdict has certainly left the Karnataka High Court shame-faced.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Right choice

With reference to the edit, ‘Building BRICS’ (May 13), it may be recalled that KV Kamath is a banker with great foresight. In the early nineties when financial sector reforms were put into motion, he had predicted difficult times ahead for the development financial institutions (DFI) owing to inaccessibility to low cost funds, long gestation period on term loans granted, and increasing mismatches in assets and liabilities. He swiftly converted the erstwhile ICICI into a financial super power house, to offer a range of financial services under one roof popularly called universal banking. IDBI followed suit soon thereafter.

Interestingly , the pace of conversion of this DFI into a commercial bank was so rapid that it had fellow bankers gasping for breath. While the ATM culture was first introduced in India by ICICI Bank, Kamath also played a pivotal role in shaping Indian banking to what it is today — a vibrant and globally competitive industry — by adopting modern technology standards and redefining customer services in an incredible manner. His rich and varied experience will certainly help to achieve the set objectives in his new role at BRICS Bank.

Srinivasan Umashankar

Nagpur

The BRICS Bank must provide a totally alternative banking climate to IMF-World Bank whose conditionalities have not been favourable for the economic development of its member countries, especially those in the third world. It must be different in terms of currency exchange offers, and must focus on the infrastructural concerns of its member countries. Hopefully we can look forward to developmental oriented banking.

VK Sridhar

Erode

Shocking rage

This is road rage with a difference — an on-duty policeman hurling abuses at and hitting a woman with a brick. She was prepared to pay the prescribed ₹100 fine for jumping the signal, but he demanded ₹200! Is this what the 46-year-old head constable has learnt during his training period and long service? Even as we ask that the police be friendly to the public, this is the sort of behaviour we get.

HP Murali

Benglauru

The cycle campaign

This refers to ‘The virtuous cycle’ by Akshima T Ghate (May 13).The extensive use of cycles by a larger number of people has many advantages. The consumption of fuel by two-wheelers is substantial. The demand for more four-wheelers also results in higher consumption of fuel causing price increase. The resulting atmospheric pollution is also worrisome. While the use of cycles is considered infra dig, another reason for not using cycles is the bad condition of roads.

TR Anandan

Coimbatore

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

Related Topics