M A I L B A G

Casual approach to results

The MET-2000 results published by Punjab Technical University on June 21, if read vertically as directed, would have rendered the merit list topsy-turvy. The university had to issue a corrigendum the very next day to correct the error. Even last year the university badly bungled the CET merit list. A judge appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court to oversee the rechecking detected numerous errors in the results adversely affecting the career of many students.

In a case before the Delhi High Court in February, 1999, the CBSE, admitted totaling errors up to as high as 7 per cent in the X and XII standard examinations involving over 1.5 lakh students.

As about the state education boards, the less said the better.

The results are computerised these days. But what can the computers do if the person feeding in the data is good for nothing. A computer is rightly called “garbage in-garbage out.”

The plea of human error is totally unacceptable when the career of our children is at stake. Conducting examinations is a serious job. A casual and irresponsible approach towards the results is unpardonable. Deterrent punishment should be meted out to the erring staff. Mere warnings won’t do.

Wg Cdr C. L. SEHGAL (retd)
Jalandhar

Pension anomaly

The Punjab Government has removed the anomaly in the revised pension rules in the case of the employees who retired within 10 months — between 1.1.1996 and 30.9.1996 — from the date of announcement of the revised scales of pay as such employees were getting less pension than those retired before 1.1.1996. But the government has not removed a similar anomaly in the case of those employees who retired between 1.1.1986 and 30.9.1986 and are getting less pension than those who retired before 1.1.1986, from the same post and at the same stage of pay in the pre-revised scale.

The anomaly in the later case is caused due to the revised pension rules of August 18, 1998, according to which, in the case of the employees who retired before 1.1.1986 the revised pension is to be worked out on the basis of the fixation of pay on a national basis in the revised scale of 1.1.1986 with reference to the pay last drawn in the old scale, and it to be treated as an average emolument for the determination of pension.

However, there is no change in the rules for the employees who retired between 1.1.1986 and 30.9.1986 and their pension is still worked out on the basis of the average of last 10 months’ pay, partly in the unrevised pre-1986 scale and partly in the revised post-1986 scale, depending on the date of retirement, with the result that such pensioners are getting much less pension as compared to those who retired before 1.1.1986. This discrepancy in the rules has put such pensioners to great financial loss and hardship.

The Punjab Government should immediately remove this disparity in the pension rules by extending the benefits of fixation of pension on a notional basis, as applicable to pre-1986 pensioners, to those who retired between 1.1.1986 and 30.9.1986.

M. P. JAIN
Chandigarh

VCs today

During the past few years the office of Vice-Chancellor has fallen into disrepute. A former Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Open University was found by a commission of enquiry to have committed irregularities of various kinds. The Vice-Chancellor of Ranchi University was arrested some time ago.

Regrettably, people with political links usurp this prestigious office who may otherwise not deserve the post. Truly deserving candidates, who have a much greater calibre, are ignored.

My suggestion is that people of high integrity should be appointed to the post of Vice-Chancellor, and no person should continue in this office after he has attained the age of 65 years.

ANSHUL JOY
Chandigarh

Use of helmets

The move of the Neurological Society of India and the Neuro Trauma Society of India to file public interest litigation in the Supreme Court, asking for the use of helmets to be made compulsory all over India, is welcome step towards minimising the casualties in road accidents involving two-wheelers.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court in an order pronounced on July 9, 1998, had made helmets compulsory for both men and women drivers and those on the pillion. However, almost two years have elapsed since this important order was passed but it is yet to be implemented due to the protests that followed by various women organisations.

Making helmets compulsory is a positive step towards ensuring safety. Moreover, exempting women from wearing helmets defies the logic as neither the heads of women are made of steel nor are they immune to accidents. According to statistics, it has been noticed that 99 per cent of the deaths in two-wheeler-related accidents are caused because of the lack of protective headgear.

So, the need of the hour is to create awareness among the people about the need for obeying traffic rules and wearing helmets voluntarily for personal safety.

SANJAY KHURANA
Chandigarh

Glorifying suicide

This refers to the news-item “Congress MLA commits suicide” (July 4). The provision of state honours, including the reversal of arms by Punjab Police personnel at the cremation site, is not in order as it amounts to the glorification of suicide. The presence of ministers and senior government employees at the cremation ground was highly improper and should have been avoided.

L. K. SHARMA
Panchkula