MyVoice: Views of our readers 7th April 2026

Surge in IPO filings is a good augury

Apropos the news report “38 cos file preliminary IPO papers in March,” (THI, April 6). The surge in IPO filings is an encouraging sign as it reflects genuine confidence in India’s capital markets. But numbers alone tell an incomplete story. Of the 109 mainboard IPOs in FY 2025-26, 69 listed above their issue price — a reasonable outcome, though not exceptional.

What deserves attention is the retail investor experience post-listing, particularly in smaller issues where volatility can be sharp. SEBI’s regulatory timelines have improved, which is commendable. Going forward, ensuring that prospectus disclosures are written in plain language — not just legally compliant but genuinely comprehensible — would do more for investor protection than most other reforms currently under discussion.

M Barathi, Bengaluru-560076

Alert people about investment frauds

This is with reference to the news report “Rs 300 cr global cyber fraud syndicate busted,” (THI, April 6). Although the arrest is a welcome development one should not miss out on the fact that the scale of this operation-2,567 complaints, 260 bank accounts, over 100 fictitious companies-reveal how dangerously sophisticated these networks have become.

What is equally troubling is how ordinary the entry point was: a fake trading app, a promise of high returns. Most victims are not careless; they are simply unfamiliar with how convincingly these platforms are designed. Banks must be mandated to flag mule accounts faster. More importantly, public awareness campaigns about investment frauds need to move beyond television spots and reach vernacular digital spaces where vulnerability is highest.

S M Jeeva, Chennai-600032

‘Constitutionalising conversion’ piece is thought-provoking

I wish to draw attention to the thought-provoking article by M Nageswara Rao, “The ifs and buts of constitutionalising conversion,” (THI April6). The author raises pertinent concerns regarding the interpretation of Article 25 and its evolving implications for religious freedom and social policy in India. The argument that the term “propagate” has, in practice, been stretched beyond safeguarding individual conscience to facilitating organized conversion invites serious constitutional reflection. Particularly striking is the critique of equating proselytizing and non-proselytizing faith traditions without adequately accounting for their differing theological and social frameworks.

Recent developments lend further weight to this debate. The Supreme Court’s judgment in Chinthada Anand v. State of Andhra Pradesh (March 24, 2026) reaffirmed that conversion to religions such as Christianity or Islam entails the loss of Scheduled Caste status, emphasizing the incompatibility between caste-based entitlements and faiths that doctrinally reject caste distinctions. This ruling reinforces the legal position that religious identity and affirmative action benefits cannot be simultaneously claimed in contradiction.

Additionally, legislative measures such as the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill, 2026, among others, signal a broader policy shift. Provisions such as mandatory prior notification, scrutiny of digital conversions, and defined waiting periods indicate an increasing recognition of conversion as a matter with public and socio-legal consequences rather than a purely private act.

It is essential that any regulatory framework remains firmly anchored in constitutional morality, ensuring that genuine freedom of belief and voluntary choice are not undermined. The challenge lies in maintaining a careful balance between individual liberty and the preservation of social equity and cultural integrity. The article is thus a timely contribution to an ongoing national conversation that warrants deeper engagement from policymakers, jurists, and civil society alike.

Vidyasagar Reddy Kethiri, Hanumakonda-506009

End mosquito menace

This is further to your recent report regarding the growing mosquito menace in Hyderabad. We have been residing at JanaPriya Nile Valley Apts at PJR Enclave for the last four Years. I would like to bring to the notice of GHMC authorities about the mosquito menace we are facing, day in and day out. Due to the negligent attitude of GHMC, our surroundings have become breeding spaces for mosquitoes, whose menace turns dreadful from 5:30pm. To add to the woes, garbage collection is very irregular and is generally taken up once in two to three days.

The resultant stench becomes unbearable. Unless the civic body takes immediate remedial steps, people will become vulnerable to dengue and malaria. Towards this, there is a need to undertake fogging across localities and go in for mosquito repellent insecticidal sprays. Households must avoid water logging in their homes, especially those stemming from indoor and outdoor pots, gardens and streets. We need a more vigilant GHMC to keep the spread of vector borne diseases at bay.

Parimala G Tadas, Hyderabad-50