A wrong precedent

Sir, - The Central Government has set a wrong precedent by requisitioning the services of three Tamil Nadu police officers. It has sent warning signals to the entire judiciary, police force and bureaucrats that they would meet the same fate if they failed to toe its line. This would have an impact on the judiciary and the police force investigating corruption cases against the erstwhile DMK regime.

It is a pity that the DMK, which had voiced concern about the powers of the State and opposed the Centre's intervention, is behind these developments. The Vajpayee Government, in a bid to please the DMK, should not play havoc with law-enforcing agencies of the State. Instead of dancing to the tunes of alliance partners, the Centre should treat the State Government with due respect and refrain from intervening in its affairs.

K.K. Sathya Narayanan,

Chennai

Sir, - Kudos to the well-judged expressions in your Editorial, `Cynical Manoeuvres' (July 31). The transfers are purely political, partisan, provocative and perceivably for petty reasons. The best face-saving measure at this stage is to keep these transfers in abeyance ``forever''.

Srimoolanathan,

Chennai

Sir, - The Centre's overriding powers come into play only in extreme circumstances and are not to be misused at the behest of NDA allies, in particular the two Central Ministers who have awkwardly exposed themselves. It is certainly not becoming of the Union Law Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, to justify the transfer and that too ``without the concurrence'' of the State Government merely on the grounds that there is a provision for such a requisition.

It is imperative that the State Government is consulted, and its views respected, in the interest of Centre-State relations.

Colin L. Raymond,

Chennai

Sir, - As suggested by C. Lakshmi Narain (July 26), can IAS officers really assert their rights and force their views on the Government? Bureaucrats are supposed to implement the policies of the Government without fear or favour. But our bureaucrats are themselves to blame for this pitiable state.

Why should the public pity them when most of them watch mutely when their colleagues are sent to jail or given punishment transfers? Only when they remain apolitical will they earn public admiration.

A. Sridharan,

Coimbatore

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