Why compromise on law?
Apropos of Syed Anwars The state: protector turns pleader (The Tribune, September 10), the main issues in the Veerappan case are three: (1) withdrawal of TADA charges against 51 detenus; (2) release/amnesty for Veerappan; and (3) release of Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar. There is a fair ground to drop the TADA proceedings against Veerappans 51 associates. Human rights activists have been highlighting the abuse of TADA since 1997 much before Rajkumars abduction. The Supreme Court has held that the proposal to release (mark the word release) the detenus would undermine the rule of law. The Karnataka Government is required only to drop the TADA charges and not to release them. The fact of the matter is that TADA was allowed to lapse in 1995 because of the outrage around the country against its extensive abuse. TADA cases against these 51 Veerappan men may be withdrawn. All these 51 detenus and other accused persons will be tried for offences under the ordinary criminal laws the Indian Pen
