Maggie, ads
Sir: Maggi noodle manufacturer , Nestle, has been getting a lot of prominence in the media even for the wrong reasons. We often used to stress the point that high profile personalities who either endorse or advertise for goods, products or services should be made accountable for anything that goes wrong with such products as has now been the case with Maggi. These celebrities must bear in mind the fact that those who market products and earn money by banking on the popularity of celebrities should not be allowed to go scot free if and when anything is found wrong.
Law should check such unfair trade practices and the people who advertises promote the product should also be made accountable along with the companies.
Satyendra Jena, 560, Bharatpur, BHUBANESWAR.
Judges, vacancies
Sir: It is well said that justice delayed is justice denied. Stunningly, all the 24 high courts in the country are facing a shortage of judges. As against sanctioned posts of 1,017 judges in high courts, there are only 651 judges as of now. About 366 posts are lying vacant since long. High courts are instituted as Constitutional courts. Due to existing unfilled vacancies, cases are piling up in all high courts. When filing of cases have increased manifold and the number of judges have come down, justice has become a daydream for the common man. The highest vacancy of 80 judges posts are vacant in the Allahabad high court. Kerala, Meghalaya, Truipura and Sikkim are quite lucky, since there is no vacant posts there. The situation is also dismal in Orissa, where about seven posts are lying vacant as against a sanctioned strength of 27. The Chief Justice post is also lying vacant. Due to this precarious situation, hearing of cases in the higher forums on a day-to-day basis has come to a standstill. It is high time the government must think seriously on this aspect and take sincere steps to fill the vacancies.
Ratikanta Mahapatra, OFS, Courtpeta Square, BERHAMPUR
Pets, BMC
Sir: Ref report, ‘Lack of awareness; few takers for BMC toll-free helpline’ (OP, 30 April). I usually lodge complaints through toll-free helpline 1800-345-0061, but hardly are they attended to. One of my complaints was that the occupant of a flat has kept a pet dog which barks loudly and disturbs the peace of the neighbours. The owner of the flat had not obtained the necessary permission from BMC to keep the pet. There is also the presence of fur; and excreta of the dog is also being thrown around. When I called, the toll-free attendant did not record my complaint on the ground that such complaints are not within the purview of the municipal law.
RK Behera, GGP Colony, Bhubaneswar
