M A I L B A G

Kashmir: Chinese chicanery

APROPOS of the news-item (Sept 12) "Involve Pak in talks on Kashmir: China", one is not amused by the chicanery practised by our northern neighbour. While China is anything but prepared to talk to the Dalai Lama on the Tibetan question — let alone involving India, Japan, Taiwan or the USA — it forgets or wants others to forget that what it carried out in Tibet was nothing short of ethnic cleansing and subjugation of a whole people.

There was a time after NATO's action in Yugoslavia when its area of operation was sought to be extended to Asia, far beyond its territorial parameters. In this connection it needs to be recognised that if Kosovo-like intervention is called for anywhere in Asia, it is in Tibet. China should also remember that so far as Kashmir is concerned, it acceded to India of its own in the wake of Pakistan's walk-over and occupation of vast areas now disingenuously called "Azad Kashmir".

It is a different matter that the same Pakistan today enjoys all the sympathy and support of Beijing, what with the covert and not-so-covert supply of all sorts of weaponry — from conventional to missile to nuclear. Is it because of the 5168 sq.km stretch of Kashmiri land ceded to it by Pakistan, or does China hope to gain more of Kashmiri and Ladakhi areas? It is a classic case of two usurpers making common cause to cheat a genuine holder.

Or is this China's way of blackmailing India and diverting its attention from their occupation of the 38,000 sq mt of Aksai Chin? One hopes Beijing will learn to face these questions squarely sooner than later.

J. N. Narang
Chandigarh

A bungled pension case

WITH reference to the news item "Class IV employee asked to forgo wages" (Sept 13), The Tribune has raised a very pertinent question: "Can a government department deny wages to any employee who has put in regular hours of duty and whose presence has been duly recorded in the attendance register?"

The Government of India notified a time-table vide its orders of February 28, 1976 (HP Government follows Central rules) making it mandatory for all government departments to start preparing the pension case of an employee 24 months before his retirement, to be passed on to the Accountant-General the latest six-month before the date of the official's retirement. Obviously, the Block Medical Officer (BMO), Arki, did not adhere to this time-table. Had this been done Mr Gopal Ram could never have continued in service beyond July 31.

The BMO cannot deny wages to the employee for having worked from August 1 to September 8. It defies all logic, all reason, all sense. The Central Administrative Tribunal (Madras Bench) in P.R. Chandrasekarn Nair v Union of India and others, (1970) - I LLJ 222 upheld "No-work, no-pay" rule. And there are many more court verdicts on the same lines. If there is a "no-work, no-pay" rule why not "pay-for-work" rule"?

Denial of wages to Mr Gopal Ram from August 1 to September 8 would hit the principles of natural justice and the very concept of a welfare state that India is. The BMO, Arki, must not penalise a class IV employee for negligence on the part of someone else in his office rather on his own self.

Additionally, Mr Gopal Ram must get death-cum-retirement gratuity (DCRG) and leave encashment of unutilised earned leave immediately. The Pension Payment Order (PPO) may also be secured for him with utmost speed. Provisional pension, in the absence of a regular PPO to be issued by AG (A&E), HP, may be given to enable Mr Gopal Ram to carry through life in these hard days.

S. S. Jain
Chandigarh

“No” to more autonomy

THE atmosphere is abuzz with the talk of more autonomy for the states. It is not understood why the states cry hoarse over the demand for more powers for them, while they depend upon the Centre for carrying on with their depleted financial resources. It is like saying," Heads we win, tails you lose."

The states want autonomy as well as funds from the Centre. If they want funds they should leave some vital powers to the Centre. The example of the USA having states with full powers is not to be emulated by India.

In the USA, the states have their strong economic base, while in India the states have serious economic regional, religious, cultural and ethnic problems. If more powers are given to the states it will lead to disunity and disintegration. In fact, the federal structure is not suited to India. We should have a strong unitary form of government.

Baijnath Sharma
Chandigarh

“Engineered” currency

SOME time ago I received a strange kind of a 100-rupee note from a patient of mine. It had two different numbers, one printed and the other hand-written.

The unique currency note has been engineered by putting together pieces of more than one note. Yet it is not so easy to find out the truth. The hand-written number shows the calligraphic skill of the person who produced it.

There are any number of re-created torn notes which are in circulation. Is there a way to get rid of this strange kind of currency which a person can refuse to accept once he notices the trick behind it? It must not be allowed to come into circulation.

(Dr) B. S. Aggarwal
Chandigarh