Date:05/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/05/stories/2007070551261001.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Charges political

With the Supreme Court rejecting the public interest litigation petition seeking the cancellation of Pratibha Patil’s nomination papers on the ground that it cannot act on allegations, it is evident that the charges being levelled against her by the BJP are only political in nature. The country has never witnessed such a low level of campaigning in the presidential election. The NDA, let down by its own ally the Shiv Sena, should observe restraint in the matter so that the newly elected President can function freely.

C.P. Velayudhan Nair,
Kochi

* * *

Filing frivolous and vindictive petitions in the name of PILs is an unhealthy trend. The Court has done well to reject the petition seeking the cancellation of the UPA candidate’s nomination papers. Is not the levelling of charges against a person without producing any document or material in their support an abuse of the judicial process?

V.K. Sathyavan Nair,
Kottayam

* * *

The hue and cry over Ms. Patil’s candidature is, in a sense, welcome as she will emerge stronger from such competitive protests. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the future President is acceptable only to a section of the people’s representatives.

Krishna Chaitanya,
Hyderabad