diff --git a/bin/readme2index.sh b/bin/readme2index.sh
index 970db6874..af9e5a7e4 100755
--- a/bin/readme2index.sh
+++ b/bin/readme2index.sh
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ shopt -s globstar	# enable ** to match all files and zero or more directories an
 
 # set variables referenced in the usage message
 #
-export VERSION="1.2.3 2024-04-13"
+export VERSION="1.2.4 2024-04-14"
 NAME=$(basename "$0")
 export NAME
 export V_FLAG=0
@@ -392,19 +392,6 @@ if [[ $ENTRY_PATH != "$DOT_PATH_CONTENT" ]]; then
     echo "$0: ERROR: arg: $ENTRY_PATH does not match $DOT_PATH contents: $DOT_PATH_CONTENT" 1>&2
     exit 7
 fi
-export ENTRY_JSON="$YYYY_DIR/.entry.json"
-if [[ ! -e $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json does not exist: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-    exit 7
-fi
-if [[ ! -f $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-    exit 7
-fi
-if [[ ! -r $ENTRY_JSON ]]; then
-    echo "$0: ERROR: .entry.json is not a readable file: $ENTRY_JSON" 1>&2
-    exit 7
-fi
 
 # verify that the md2html tool is executable
 #