*EDITORIAL* *A judge's tears Anonymous letters must not scuttle justice*
*I*t's a harsh thing to say, but gossiping, rumour-mongering and writing anonymous letters which either make unfounded allegations or threaten someone are a common pastime in India. Many of such letters are vicious works of fiction by cowards who prefer to hit below the belt and for ulterior motives. Most people in authority get such missives by the dozen and know the rightful destination for them: wastepaper basket. On his own admission, Supreme Court Judge A.R. Lakshmanan has received the first such "heinous" letter in his illustrious career spanning 17 and a half years and almost broke down in the open court. We sympathise with the judge who is to retire within the next few days, but cannot second his decision to recuse himself from the case relating to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's disproportionate assets. By doing so, he has given undeserving importance to the letter and has unintentionally played into the hands of the writer, because that is what he probably wanted to achieve. Mr Lakshmanan should have asked himself what would happen if other persons with mischief in their mind start dashing off similar nasty letters to all his brother judges and they also get equally perturbed by them. Supreme Court judges are like beacons showing the way to countless other legal functionaries. Seasoned persons like them in positions of authority should know how to take such irritants in their stride. That will be the most befitting answer to those characterless men who fire irresponsibly from behind the wall of anonymity. At the same time, it is necessary to hold a thorough investigation to find out who sent the devious fax to His Lordship, and to take him or them to task. They get emboldened further and further just because they get away most of the time. Such letters are not only accusatory but also intimidating. The writers can be put in their place only by ignoring the allegations, but not the letter-writers. http://www.tribuneinUttaroPradesh20070319/edit.htMulayam
