Scrapping 10-minute delivery by quick-commerce firms by the Ministry of Labour is a hasty and unwise step. E-commerce firms should have ensured fair wages, welfare, and safety for gig workers. The model was popular; delivering essentials saved citizens’ time and provided crucial income to many. Reforming it, not scrapping it, was the real solution.

P.V. Prakash, Mumbai

Be responsible

The Supreme Court has ruled that whenever there is an injury or death due to a dog bite, the state government shall be responsible for compensating the victim, and in turn, the state can make the dog feeders liable for prosecution. There was opposition from animal lovers about the SC’s earlier order to remove dogs from streets and to place them in specially designated shelters. The realisation that the state must own civic responsibility has ultimately dawned after prolonged sufferings of humans due to dog bites, and deaths. 

P.R. Ravinder, Hyderabad

Blaming EVMs!

Opposition party candidates are prone to complain when they lose, but they don’t have the guts to call for a recounting of their votes in constituencies or wards where they have won! If EVMs are wrong when they fail, how can they be right when they win? EVMS are like lifts, used both for going up and down. Just as no one blames the lift, even the EVMs should not be faulted. The Opposition should take their verdicts in a sporting manner and work hard for better results in the next election.

Lakshman Sundar, Navi Mumbai

SC on tax treaties

The Supreme Court’s Tiger Global Flipkart ruling on tax treaties will set a crucial precedent. It could prompt foreign investors to re-examine how deals and their holdings are managed. The apex court has rightly assessed that GAAR is a domestic legal framework and it cannot override a tax treaty. Now tax litigation over tax treaty claims may increase and impact the tax insurance market, but clear guidance going forward regarding substance over form will be much needed to provide clarity to global investors. 

Bal Govind, Noida

About Jallikattu

The traditional bull-taming sport, Jallikattu, has come to stay with the Tamilians, specifically around Madurai and Trichy, during the Pongal season. Most of the youngsters that participate in it are unemployed. There is no denying that cultural heritage must be preserved, but at the same time, human life is more important. There is also a lot of hue and cry from the Blue Cross Society in favour of the tortured bulls. Stronger rules and regulations are essential to safeguard the lives of youth as well as the bulls. 

Rajakumar Arulanandham, TN

Behave like a CM

Apropos the news “SC stays FIRs, issues notice to Bengal CM” (Jan 16), there may be some allowance of concession in the case of politicians who do not hold any constitutional post when they protest, but in the case of Mamata Banerjee, she is holding the chief ministerial post. This being so, preventing the central agencies from discharging their assigned duties tantamounts to an unlawful activity. One expects politicians holding plum posts to behave in a dignified manner. If they think by protesting and stonewalling investigations they can score brownie points, they are sadly mistaken.

H.P. Murali, Bengaluru

India-China dispute 

China’s territorial claims over the Shaksgam Valley and India’s firm rejection of it have triggered a sharp diplomatic reaction between India and China. China’s expanding infrastructure footprint in the Shaksgam Valley has evoked a strong and assertive reaction from India. The basis of China’s territorial claims over the Shaksgam region is the China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement (1963), which India rejects. One does not know whether the governments of India and China can bring this issue to the negotiating table.

Devendra Khurana, Bhopal