MyVoice: Views of our readers 1st April 2026

CJI should have called for a vibrant legal structure

This is further to your editorial ‘Indian soldiers fight two battles-military and civil’. The concern of the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant for the Indian army, in providing more legal proximity is commendable; but then, this is the right of every citizen of the country to have an easy approach, access and adequate confidence in the country’s legal procedure and system.

Justice Kant’s observations about the inadequacies of military courts must be taken with a pinch of salt – since these courts confine mainly to departmental and regimental discipline issues rather than venturing in the civil domain of legal purview. The CJI should have spoken about improving the legal structure, while disposing of the cases that are pending for decades across High Courts and the Supreme Court.

S Lakshmi, Hyderabad

Army persons remain trapped in outdate dual-justice system

This refers to your editorial “Indian soldiers fight two battles-military and civil.” India’s armed forces personnel remain trapped in an antiquated dual-justice system where military discipline and civilian law operate in conflicting orbits. When service members face legal vulnerabilities during their tenure, the state’s failure to provide adequate protection becomes a fundamental breach of social contract.

The Chief Justice’s intervention signals what Parliament has long ignored: soldiers cannot be expected to defend the nation while their families struggle through bureaucratic labyrinths for basic legal recourse. Establishing a dedicated military courts system with transparent jurisdiction and accessible legal aid would transform this dysfunction. Until we acknowledge that safeguarding those who protect us constitutes constitutional obligation, we merely pay lip service to national gratitude while permitting institutional injustice to persist.

Babu Crishna, Bengaluru-560051

Conversions don’t always bring dignity

The article ‘Neither executive nor legislature understands judiciary’ (THI March 31) rightly highlights the tension between institutions, but an often-ignored consequence of legal and political battles over religion and conversion is borne by the poorest communities.

Converts from sanitation and cleanliness communities frequently end up on the losing side, socially and legally. The example of Lalbegi Muslims in Punjab shows how conversion does not always bring dignity or mobility and sometimes results in loss of affirmative action benefits. Policymaking must recognise these ground realities, not just constitutional theory.

Harsh Pawaria, Rohtak, Haryana

Traffic chaos in Hyd needs urgent attention

Hyderabad’s growing traffic congestion has become a major concern for daily commuters. Unplanned expansion, increasing number of vehicles, and weak enforcement of traffic rules have made travel stressful and time-consuming.

Peak hours often witness severe jams, leading to loss of productivity and increased pollution. Despite several measures, the situation remains largely unchanged. Authorities must act decisively by improving public transport, ensuring better traffic management, and strictly implementing rules. Immediate and practical solutions are the need of the hour.

Mohammed Naseeruddin Qadri, Hyderabad

TG’s elder care law is a brave step

The country has a specific law ensuring care of the elderly-the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. It is binding on all neglected parents to apply to a tribunal constituted by the state government. While the Central law is wider in its application, the Telangana law is applicable specifically to employees. The Central law is stronger as it bars civil courts from granting any injunction against the order passed by the tribunal. The Telangana Employees Accountability and Monitoring of Parental Support Bill, 2026 has been passed by the Telangana government, broadly in line with the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.

The key difference is that the new Bill expands the scope of the law to include private employees, in addition to government staff and elected representatives. Apart from salary deductions, Telangana has gone a step further by proposing an institutional mechanism to ensure effective enforcement. In essence, Telangana’s parental support law represents a bold attempt to address a painful reality of modern society: the neglect of elderly parents. Its spirit deserves appreciation, for it seeks to uphold a moral principle that has long been central to Indian culture.

Yet the success of such legislation will depend not merely on strict enforcement but on thoughtful implementation, administrative sensitivity and complementary social policies. If handled carefully, the initiative can serve as both a legal safeguard and a reminder that progress should never weaken the bonds that sustain families and societies.

Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandhar-144001