For over 50 years, this writer used to read one newspaper fully without fail. However, over a decade, after retirement, he made it a point to read invariably three well-established age-old Indian English newspapers in physical form.
They have their own standards of professionalism with a good amount of impartiality though one cannot say that they have no slant this way or that way. The three newspapers are The New Indian Express, The Hindu, and the Times of India, in that order. Regional and local papers do give the required spice but cannot be banked upon for unflinching accuracy.
Like how opinions change with changing political times, these newspapers do constantly get their share of brickbats and bouquets depending on the issues. One common thread that runs through national papers is their ability to facilitate the reader to see oases of information in a sandy desert of data. While the same news is packaged in different designs, the exclusivity of these newspapers is their editorials, articles, and last but not least letters to the editor from their readers. One such letter in The Hindu of February 20, 2025, on the panel for appointment of the CEC triggered this writer to write this piece because it certainly deserved wider attention for the public to appreciate it.
Here is the potential extract from the letter penned by P.R.V. Raja from Kerala. “I find little chance that the Court will insist on the Chief Justice of India’s constant presence in the panel.
That the issue is not very important can be deduced from the Court’s line that it would now try to hear the case on March 19. Fears about ‘the majority’ in the panel and the Opposition leader getting reduced to a ‘figurehead’ have some grounds in our politics. The only solution at present appears to be to legally insist on ‘unanimous decisions’ by the panel. The constitution of the panel may also be changed and strengthened so that it has, say six members – three from different ruling parties and three from different Opposition parties. With neither group claiming ‘majority’ and with more members within, the panel might be able to solve the present controversies.”
All right-thinking people, I am sure, will go with what a simple reader expressed through a letter to the editor in just 250 words (approx.). The suggestion he made looks reasonable, logical, implementable and appreciable commonly by all people with divergent stands that they may take. This suggestion converges at a consensual conclusion and perhaps protagonists of true democracy will move it forward to convince the die-hard hard nuts to crack to ensure that we have a Chief Election Commissioner who is feared, respected, and followed in a true spirit of democracy. In light of the severe trust deficit, this suggestion from a common man may be considered for the common voters who can choose their leaders without fear or favour. If we praise this simple letter writer, then due credit should also go to the newspaper for having published the same shortlist from hundreds of letters it might be getting daily on various issues including this one.
Hope the concerned authorities give credence to such suggestions and swing into action to save our democracy
