M A I L B A G

Governor can’t annul rulings of Speaker

The edit “Mess in Goa” (Feb 4) makes the Speaker responsible for the mess. The proverb ‘Old habits die hard’ is quite applicable to the Congress. From the dismissal of Kerala’s majority government in 1959 by the then governor to the dismissal of the Parrikar government in Goa, the Congress has a long history of misusing the Governor’s office to dislodge popularly elected non-Congress governments for partisan ends. If it is not so, why has the Congress not dismissed Bihar and UP governments where the law and order is worse?

Under the Constitution, the Speaker has quasi-judicial as well as disciplinary powers. He can warn, suspend or ask the marshal to take a member out of the House if he/she violates his orders. But no such powers have been bestowed on the Governor. The Governor cannot annul the Speaker’s ruling. The judiciary alone can hear an appeal against the latter. The action in Goa may be repeated in other non-Congress states also.

RAJINDER RANA, Patlendar (HP)

Anti-Defection Act

Infirmities in the Anti-Defection Act were evident ever since it was enacted. If a few legislators can reduce the ruling party to a minority by resigning from the House and become ministers the next day, we do not want such an Act.

D.P. KARKARA, Kurukshetra

Good turnout

When our Constitution was adopted, the literacy rate was very low. Yet the quality of governance and of politicians, whether on the treasury benches or in the opposition, was to a large extent above reproach. As conditions obtain today, our system is polluted with corruption, criminalisation of politics and so on.

On February 3, I was impressed to see the voter turnout in Haryana. The Indian voters have indeed come of age. The ball is now entirely in the court of the new State Assembly to deliver good governance with due responsibility.

Major BALDEV SINGH, Ambala Cantt

II

The Election Commission has been suggesting innovations every time to ensure free and fair elections. First, it suggested that ministers should resign following the announcement of the elections. Now it has reiterated its earlier suggestion for negative voting. This suggestion, if implemented, will change the face of Indian democracy.

The government should take the initiative for electoral reforms so that elections can be conducted in a free and fair manner. There should be Governor’s rule in the states and President’s rule at the Centre for three months after the announcement of elections to the respective State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha.

Dr B.L. TEKRIWAL, Mumbai

Officers’ transfer

The Tribune report “Una SP, SDM to be transferred” (Feb 2) is fairly balanced. However, I strongly feel that penal action against any officer should be taken only if indicted by an impartial magisterial probe. Otherwise, it would have a demoralising effect on the general administration.

The officers reportedly targeted for transfer on the basis of the report submitted by the so-called fact-finding committee would, to my mind, be more sinned against than sinning, thus setting a bad precedent.

I hold no brief for the officers in question. My only point is that the officers who performed their onerous duty under trying circumstances should not be made scapegoats just to defuse the situation.

TARA CHAND, General Secretary, HP Lok Sewa Mandal, Ambota (Una)

Powerless on R-Day

We, the residents of Jalandhar, were deprived of our opportunity to watch the live telecast of the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, thanks to the senseless power cut imposed by the PSEB. Power outs need not be mindless. I am sure, both power conservation and peoples’ needs can be taken care of, if the PSEB doesn’t work just mechanically.

Wg- Cdr C.L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

PSHRC website

The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), in its website, has been displaying the cause lists daily well in advance. This is very much appreciated. However, the complaint status as well as advance search through which the status of complaint be known are not visible due to HTTP-500 Internal Server error. This should be rectified immediately in public interest.

N.M. HANSI, Ludhiana

Ugly look

While public parks in Panchkula are being developed in a modern way both in the residential and commercial areas of the township, decorative trees and shrubs are being planted in them. But the old babool trees in some parks look ugly against the backdrop of beautiful houses and buildings. They ought to be removed or replaced. Further, some road lampposts are tilting and have thus become a traffic hazard. The authorities concerned should get them rectified.

V.K. JAIN, Panchkula