M A I L B A G

The IT courses in Haryana

THIS is with reference to a news item (The Tribune, September 9) concerning the increase in the number of seats in information technology courses in Haryana. Indeed, it is a commendable decision of the Haryana Government since there is a large demand of IT professionals in the country and abroad.

However, it is necessary to mention that the seats for the MCA course have been increased mainly in private institutions, some of which probably may not have proper infrastructure. Since these are self-financing institutions, their primary interest is to admit students against payment and NRI seats. As a result, some good students coming from poor sections of society are unable to get admission in such professional courses.

Besides, there is no reservation of seats for SC/ST and backward class candidates. In these conditions, the best course is to increase the seats for the MCA course in the universities in Haryana. But, unfortunately, excepting Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, seats for the MCA course have not been increased in the universities.

In particular, it is significant to take note of the decision taken by Kurukshetra University. It is a premier university of Haryana and has a standing of more than 40 years in the field of higher education. The Computer Science Department of the university has more than 10 faculty members of national repute. Besides, it has adequate facilities for running the MCA course and other IT-related courses.

Despite this, it is unfortunate that no initiative has been taken to increase the seats for the MCA course.

It may be mentioned here that the present intake of students in the MCA course of this university is 40 whereas the existing strength in the same course in MDU, Rohtak, is 50. All this has been said with the hope that Kurukshetra University will review its position on the issue of increasing seats for the MCA course.

GOURAV & SARITA
Ambala Cantt

Why leniency to IT Dept?

Of late, it has been found that the Income Tax Department has been filing special leave petitions and appeals against the judgements of the High Courts to the apex court even where the revenue involved is very low. The reason is that the judgements of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and the High Court have gone in favour of the assessee.

Besides, even in cases of gross delay in filing an appeal or SLP by the IT Department, it is often seen that the delay is condoned. We really fail to understand why this leniency is shown to the Income Tax Department when this is not allowed to the assessee.

Therefore, for reducing the incidence of income-tax litigation, it is necessary that in small matters where the assessee has won upto the High Court level, the Income Tax Department should not go in appeal to the Supreme Court. This is because the cost in pursuing a litigation before the Supreme Court is almost negligible for the IT Department whereas it is a huge amount for the assessees who are living outside Delhi.

It is, therefore, suggested that the Central Board of Taxes should issue the necessary instructions first to file the appeal, if necessary, before the Supreme Court well within time and, secondly, not to pursue the matter before the Supreme Court where the revenue involved is comparatively small and the assessee has won both before the Tribunal and the High Court.

R. N. LAKHOTIA
New Delhi

Clearing power, phone bills

Not only is depositing an electricity bill “an onerous task” (September 11), the payment of telephone and water bills are equally difficult jobs. There are long queues of those who are to pay such bills.

For the payment of such bills in this area (Lawrence Road) one has to stand in a queue for several hours, specially on the last day of payment.

The post office building in this locality is just a shop, say seven feet by 15 feet. Thus hardly a little space is left for customers to move about. This shop does not meet the requirements of the users of postal services. The same must be the case with other post office buildings hired some 50 years ago.

VIJAY SEN
Amritsar

Veerappan deserves stern action

We wonder why the Governments of Karnataka, and Tamil Naidu and the Centre are not taking stern steps against Veerappan. Our soldiers are so strong that they fought a war with Pakistan and created a new State called Bangladesh. They won the Kargil war in difficult circumstances. Can they not finish off criminal Veerappan?

If the government is accepting his all illegal demands, he will put more and more demands. Emissary R.R. Gopal must be having some idea about where Veerappan is hiding in the jungle. The government should deploy the military against him and kill him. Otherwise the forest brigand will create more problems for the people and the government.

B. S. Sethi
Patiala