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This is with reference to the article “An economist for all seasons” ( Business Line , April 25). I read Mr Kaushik Basu's paper on his proposal to legalise bribes.
His game-theory analysis of legalising bribes lies on the central assumption that the bribe giver, after taking the services for which he is entitled to from the bribe taker, takes a divergent path and resorts to legal recourse. But, then, let us consider these simple questions.
First, do the poor and the middle-class have enough energy and time to go and complain about every bribe they paid?
Second, are we assuming that our law enforcement agencies will act on every compliant? Are they even equipped to handle the volume they receive, assuming everyone complains? What is the guarantee that the agencies themselves will not ask for “harassment bribes”, not to share the information with the bribe taker, now that he is trapped?
Third, how we can classify genuine and false complaints? Finally, what is the safety guarantee the government can provide to the bribe giver?
As the author himself clarifies, people would find clever ways to circumvent the issue. What we need is a realisation in every Indian that giving or taking bribes will dent his morality.
Varad Seshadri
Sunnyvale, US
Combating corruption
The author has hit the nail on the head in “A lamentable letdown” ( Business Line , April 26.) The Bhushans must go. When the government argued that “unimpeachable integrity” was not specifically written in the eligibility criteria for appointment of the Central Vigilance Commissioner, some members of this very same civil society cried foul.
To me, the whole thing appears as a fight between those who, having enjoyed the fruits of a corruption-ridden system during their lucrative careers, are now settling scores in the name of combating the evils of corruption.
The youth and the middle-aged people of the country seem to back this movement only because Anna Hazare has singlyevoked admiration, and they think something ought to be done instantly.
They do not really care who is in the drafting committee so long as Anna Hazare continues the crusade.
No one knows the Bhushans. Apparently, they are not only compulsive litigants but also do not mind tweaking laws for self-aggrandisement. In fact, some young Indians, including some lawyers, could have formed part of the drafting panel; except Kejriwal, all the members of the committee are senior citizens..
R. Sundaram
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