M A I L B A G

Corruption as low-risk-high-profit business

THE Tehelka drama may be fake but corruption is not. The refrain today is that honesty is no longer the best policy. An upholder of moral and ethical values is considered an odd character. It is nearly impossible to stay clean in a system full of dirt.

If someone wants to be upright and honest, the system offers him no quarter. It thrives on corruption. Money rules the roost and only the dishonest, the corrupt and the hypocrite prosper.

How long this evil which is eating into the vitals of our society, can be allowed to continue? How long can the laws and rules be allowed to be exploited by persons in high places to their advantage?

The system needs to be overhauled with stringent laws as suggested by the Central Vigilance Commissioner, Mr N. Vittal, who says that corruption flourishes since it is a low-risk-high-profit business and he wants to make it a high-risk-low-profit business with severe punitive measures.

O. P. KALYANA, Chandigarh

B. S. KUMAR, Chandigarh

Playing foul with students YOUR editorial “Putting careers in jeopardy” (March 15) provides food for thought both for the academicians and the bureaucracy of the Punjab Technical University. There are some inbuilt systems in the working of a university by which mistakes or errors are detected at one stage or the other, if everyone works properly. While preparing the results, the Controller of Examinations is keen to see that the results are compiled within the stipulated time-frame after, checking, re-checking, cross-checking, and scrutiny by experts in the presence of teachers. Since the Punjab Technical University does not have to deal with a large number of examinations it should not leave any scope for the examination staff to be approached by unscrupulous elements. The Vice-Chancellor has done well to expose such elements and he may treat them in a befitting manner. Stringent action should be taken against the nexus which has been playing foul with the careers of students, and putting the credibility of the university at stake. SAT PAL SHARMA, Patiala

Annan’s clarification

The Secretary-General of the UN has said that the Kashmir plebiscite resolution adopted by the Security Council in 1948 lacks the force of self-implementation. This is a major victory for India and a serious set-back to Pakistan.

The general impression so far has been that India has been violating the UN resolution and that the UN can force a plebiscite in Kashmir. Not many people know that the accession of the princely states to India or Pakistan was absolute and unconditional.

Pakistan had demanded a settlement of the Kashmir issue on the pattern of East Timor. Now the position has been made clear by Mr Annan. It is a vindication of India’s stand for the past 50 years. The propaganda of Pakistan alleging atrocities by Indian forces had made India take a defensive posture. We shied away from discussing the Kashmir issue in international company. This enabled Pakistan to shift world focus from PoK to Indian Kashmir.

The endorsement of the Lahore Declaration by Mr Annan puts India in a stronger position even if our peace gestures are not reciprocated by Pakistan. Now India should demand the return of Kashmir areas which are illegally occupied by Pakistan.

ARVIND DHUMAL, Jalandhar