This refers to the article, “Please, no nuisance on the tax-payer’s dime” (March 11) by Manjula Pal. Not only should there be a time limit for students to complete their Phd studies, but there ought to be a selection criteria for research topics. And this, with some fixed guidelines, under a regulatory body. Research should be of some practical use to the nation and society. Pseudo-scholars should not be allowed to vitiate the academic field on the taxpayers’ money.