Court on insensitivityThe Supreme Court of India’s direction to the government to form guidelines to regulate conduct on social media is humanity based (Front page, August 26). When millions of people are suffering from all sorts of problems, providing them with more facilities and encouraging them is always good. An Arab proverb listed in the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs says, “Do not grieve that rose-trees have thorns, rather rejoice that thorny bushes bear roses”. It can be taken this way. ‘Do not grieve that one is physically challenged or handicapped. Rather, rejoice that such persons can excel in life with some confidence’.A.J. Rangarajan,ChennaiConstitutional stalemateThe Presidential reference on the powers of the Governor assumes importance because if the reference is answered in favour of the Governor, it would affect the basic structure of the Constitution. The argument of the Attorney General, that the Governor could act on his own discretion and that any Bill passed by the Legislature is subject to the Governor’s discretion, would be disastrous for electoral democracy. Article 200 of the Constitution makes it absolutely clear that the Governor should either grant or withhold assent in which case he should send it back to the State Legislature within a reasonable time. If the Legislature passes the Bill again, the Governor has to give assent. Therefore, the powers of the Governor are subject to the Legislature, which is the elected body.For the Attorney-General to make contra-suggestions that the Governor has all the powers to come to his own decision will have serious consequences for electoral democracy and federalism. Such arguments would not only lead to a breakdown of the Constitution but also a crackdown. The voice of the Attorney-General should not merely be the voice of the Union Government. It should be the voice of the Constitution.N.G.R. Prasad,ChennaiPublished - August 27, 2025 12:24 am IST