Soldiers’ voting right

THE issue of the exercise of the voting right by the jawans and officers of our armed forces has been hanging fire. Because of the cumbersome, time-consuming and wasteful procedures the postal ballot, in spite of sincere efforts by the armed forces’ personnel and Returning Officers, reaches its destination long after the date of counting in many cases.

Much heat has also been generated over the question of granting proxy rights to parents, other family members and friends of jawans and officers since this involves an infringement of the secrecy aspect, believed to be the most sacred part of the right to vote.

Keeping in view these difficulties, some practical way-out has to be found. Though populism in this country assumes weird forms and manifestations to impress various sections of the populace, including the armed forces, no political party should insist on generalised proxy voting. It entails serious difficulties.

J. N. NARANG
Chandigarh

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KU: renaming is unfair

A university should always be above petty politics. Its functioning or its renaming must not be based on the whims and fancies of a ruler. There are many other better ways to celebrate the tercentenary of the foundation of the Khalsa Panth. The name of no university in any neighbouring state has ever been changed like this.

Kurukshetra University is well known throughout India and even in the world by its present name. Moreover, it is the oldest university of Haryana, and there should not be any fiddling with its historic name.

The academic community appeals the Haryana Chief Minister to restore the original name of the university in view of the following facts.

First, the present Chief Minister should not forget that he has come to power through manipulations, and not on the basis of a popular mandate.

Second, his tenure is uncertain and temporary.

Third, he should keep in mind that his political constituency is Haryana and not Punjab.

Fourth, a mistake corrected by his father, Mr Devi Lal, in 1977 should not be repeated by son Chautala.

Fifth, by hurriedly and illogically changing the name of Kurukshetra University he has alienated himself from a large section of the people of Haryana.

Sixth, the Election Commission’s code of conduct is in operation.

Lest a future Chief Minister should undo his hasty act, it will be in the fitness of things if the present incumbent reconsiders his decision of renaming Kurukshetra University.

VINAY KUMAR MALHOTRA
Ambala Cantt

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A literary giant

With the passing away of Nirad C. Chaudhuri, society has been deprived of a literary giant who remained physically and mentally alert till his last. Undoubtedly, he usefully lived and enjoyed every moment of his life even after crossing his hundred years. Publication of his last book in his hundredth year of life is a matter of envy for any writer.

He was a completely Anglicised Indian like so many others in this country. His style of writing earned him the reputation of being anti-Indian or anti-Hindu. Although it appeared to be so but it was not actually so. He definitely pierced the psyche of Hindu fundamentalists in uncharitable words. He did not mince words while exposing the hypocrisy of Indians.

Undoubtedly, Nirad Babu has carved out a niche for himself in the world of literature for all times to come. For his writing he has won critical accolades and laurels.

I regret that I could not meet him in person even though with great efforts, I could locate his house in the Kashmiri Gate area in Delhi. He had already left for England and perhaps he did not return thereafter. And now he shall never return.

HARJINDAR SINGH TANGRI
Faridkot

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Shady practices

The Tribune report “Even jawan’s widow not spared” (August 8), albeit sad and gloomy, hardly comes as a surprise.

Indisputably enough,over the years the state’s Revenue Department, especially its consolidation/settlement wings, has increasingly become notorious for shady practices. The things in the accursed department seem to have reached such a pass that getting a thing done via corrupt ways is decidedly cheaper and time-saving than through the routine course.

“Pay speed money or else be damned” seems the rule in the said department, bluntly speaking. And the money-happy officials manning the department observe the “rule” so meticulously that they spare none, not even the hapless widows of jawans.

Can the situation be corrected? Well candidly speaking, no. Unless, of course, some cataclysmic change takes place or some messiah appears out of the blue. The multi-crore scams increasingly plaguing the country at the highest levels makes me all the more pessimistic.

TARA CHAND
Ambota (Una)

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PUTA: questionable system

The Panjab University Teachers’ Association elections are held for the posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and Executive members representing various wings (comprising faculties/departments).

One can understand the system of collective voting for the posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer. But what about voting for the representatives of the various wings?

Take the case of the Department of Correspondence Studies, which by itself is the largest department on the campus. Ironically, the election of its representative to the PUTA Executive is not decided by the 80 faculty members of the department but by about 600 members of PUTA. Why should the people who have nothing to do with a department be allowed to influence the election of its representatives to the PUTA Executive?

If the practice of “trans-constituency voting” is adopted in the Lok Sabha elections, the situation may lead to the weakening of democracy. And in the process the smaller parties may disappear!

RAVI MAHAJAN
Chandigarh