Reservations have been a contentious issue and a subject of multiple SC judgments. An important element of this issue is determining the extent to which reservations can be provided. By what degree can the opportunities afforded to the backward classes exceed those of the rest of society? The question has been explored in the cases of MR Balaji, T Devadasan and Indra Sawhney, all agreeing on capping the reservation limit at 50%. Recently, the SC in the Maratha reservation case has upheld and furthered the same opinion. The rationale for affixing a limit on the quantum of reservations is that in the pursuit of making provisions for the advancement of backward classes, the rights and claims of other members cannot be undermined. The rights exercised by one group cannot override the other, and therefore, it is imperative that they be balanced against each other. Hence, seats reserved for backward classes should be complemented by seats open for competition in a manner that is reasonable and that does not jeopardise the efficiency of the administration.

Nissim Aggarwal, Chandigarh

At someone else’s cost

Apropos of ‘Pandemic’s vultures’, when the whole country is in the need of cooperation among all its citizens in the deadly second wave of the pandemic, there are some people who are using this time to earn money through black marketing. What will people do by earning money at the cost of the misery of other people? It is a very sad reality of our society.

Ritish Pandit, Sunhet

Show compassion

The significance of benevolence and brotherhood should not be undermined at any cost in these testing times (‘Let us fight Covid crisis calmly and collectively’). When most of us are in trouble, the best thing to do for all of us is to show compassion to all. It is time to extend a helping hand to a person who is neither physically nor financially sound. We can accompany those patients to hospitals who have been abandoned by their near and dear ones or donate money to those who can't buy food, medicines, masks, sanitisers, etc. If we will work together, only then we will win this war.

Sunil Chopra, Ludhiana

Forgotten humanity

At a time when Covid-19 is raging like never before, it is shocking how some humans are behaving, hiking ambulance and oxygen charges. When I was nine years old, in 1955, I was a witness to severe floods in Punjab. Every home in the town was cooking meals for families who had shifted from affected areas to dharamshalas and schools, even as young men were building walls of earth filling to divert the flow of water. What have we learnt in the past six decades? To become selfish and loot when we get a chance? However, some NGOs have come to the rescue of those suffering and providing help with transport, langar and medicines.

OP GARG, PATIALA

Cummins shows the way

With reference to The Sunday Tribune, ‘Cometh the hour, Cummins the man’; the second wave of corona has shaken India badly. Amid the greed for money and glamour, world's cricketers are eager to get into the IPL. In this era, keeping humanity alive with such a sporting spirit is an example in itself, which an Australian player did. It was also a slap in the face of Indian players and IPL organisers. Indian players should also become partners in this initiative. Cummins has certainly won the hearts of millions of Indians.

Sikandar Bansal, Shimla

Government’s version

Reference to ‘Why India is getting bad press’; even if the government side is friendly with foreign media and tries hard to justify its viewpoint, what explanation will it give to the visual proofs of people running from pillar to post for hospital beds, oxygen, medicines; people dying on the roads, and the long queues for cremation? No journalist worth his salt would buy the government explanations! The only explanation the government has is that it didn't expect such a deadly onslaught of the second wave. Also, it was busy in holding political rallies and allowing religious events like the Kumbh mela.

Lalita Jagmohan Singh, Chandigarh

Go for joint farming

Refer to ‘Joint farming boon for Dalit in trying times’; it is relevant in the pandemic times. The Sangrur model should be implemented all over Punjab so that the downtrodden can get employment with dignity. Common and reserved land should be given to landless labourers. The Dalits are 32% of the state’s population but barely own 3% of the land. Major political parties are wooing Dalit voters by promising them the post of deputy Chief Minister to their community, but are silent on providing them viable extents of agricultural land. The need of the hour is joint farming as many farmers and labour organisations are on agitation path over the three farm laws.

JANAK RAJ SARANGAL, GURDASPUR

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