E D I T O R I A L   P A G E

EDITORIALS

Do respond, My Lords!
THE Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has created history of a sort by its principled stand on the conduct of judges and other matters related to the murky affairs of the Punjab Public Service Commission. It has asked the Chief Justice to hold an inquiry into the allegations against certain judges reportedly involved in the PPSC recruitment scam.

Step towards democracy
AS a frail and pale Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest after 19 months on Monday, it was yet another small moment in her personal life, which has been an unending saga of glorious struggle against the military junta of Myanmar. But as far as the history of her godforsaken country is concerned, it was a momentous occasion indeed, considering that it might signify a long-awaited step towards democracy.

Omar's balancing act
MINISTER of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah is a fast learner. The deft handling of the critical issue facing the National Conference as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Part-led National Democratic Alliance during the Opposition-sponsored debate on Gujarat indeed enhanced his stature as a politician who knows how to walk a tight rope.

OPINION

A distorted political scenario
Opposition parties in difficult straits
S. Nihal Singh
THE Congress and other opposition parties are trying to find a new centre in a political scenario that has been distorted by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh Parivar. That centre is eluding the parties thus far because while the Congress can hope to go it alone, the others are pulled in different directions by their anti-Congress postures and their desire at the same time to oppose the BJP.

MIDDLE

Filial ingratitude
Darshan Singh Maini
FEW injuries of the spirit are more painful than those inflicted by the very persons whom you considered close to your heart — and, therefore, to your purse and purpose. These wounds never quite heal, and the scars show even after a long passage of time. In the Sikh scriptures, the akirtghan or the ungrateful are specially singled out for the stringest strictures. For such persons break the bonds of man and man, man and family, man and society. In other words, they do dirt on all that we hold dear and holy in human life.

OPEN FORUM

IN view of the tremendous response to the page-one editorial “No, my Lord!” and the PPSC selection scam, we throw open these columns to readers to enable them to express their views on this vital issue.

As the people see it Well done An extreme step Keep it up Rights infringed Black sheep Transparency Corrupt system

Open up, Sidhu Scams elsewhere Scrap recruitments What should be done PPSC selections & a parable CM gets too much mileage Ravi Sidhus are everywhere Press too must share the blame

EDITORIALS

Do respond, My Lords!

THE Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has created history of a sort by its principled stand on the conduct of judges and other matters related to the murky affairs of the Punjab Public Service Commission. It has asked the Chief Justice to hold an inquiry into the allegations against certain judges reportedly involved in the PPSC recruitment scam. The pathbreaking resolutions adopted unanimously by the association in Chandigarh on Monday (May 6) speak for themselves. It has suggested an honourable way out of the messy situation arising out of the allegations as also the order passed by Mr Justice K. S. Garewal, "completely prohibiting" the state of Punjab, the investigating agencies and officials from disclosing details of statements and confessions of the accused, besides the contents of case diaries, to the media. We have already questioned the very desirability of the order (The Sunday Tribune, May 5) and can only reiterate that it is ill-conceived and misplaced as it goes against the first principles of democracy, freedom and the rule of law.

The Bar Association deserves appreciation for its right initiative for putting the judicial house in order. It is heartening to note that the lawyers have joined hands with one another not only for ensuring transparency and accountability in the judicial system but also for upholding the citizens' right to information flow and the media's right to report a matter of crucial public interest freely, fairly and fearlessly.

It is in the interest of the judiciary to find an honourable solution to this avoidable crisis. The matter should not be treated as a prestige issue. The resolutions of the Bar Association ought to be taken in the right spirit. The judiciary is a very important pillar of our democracy. The lawyers and other citizens are certainly not interested in diluting the judicial honour and prestige. The people in general look to the judiciary as a source of strength, especially in their fight against administrative malfunctioning and authoritarian tendencies. We hope the High Court will graciously and gracefully respond to the lawyers' pleas and correct its course with an open mind and without any prejudice. We expect the judiciary not only to be fair to itself on the crucial issue of corruption in public life but also to the media so that it continues to play an enlightened role in public interest. It needs to be appreciated that without justice there can be no freedom and without freedom there can be no justice.

It is worth recalling the words of wisdom of the Law Commission of India (in its 14th report) on the standards of conduct of the judges on the Bench and outside. It observed: "If the public is to give profound respect to the judges, the judges should, by their conduct, try and deserve it. Not by word or deed should they give cause for the belief that they do not deserve the pedestal on which we expect the public to place them." It is for the honourable judges to ensure that public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary is not undermined.

Step towards democracy

AS a frail and pale Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest after 19 months on Monday, it was yet another small moment in her personal life, which has been an unending saga of glorious struggle against the military junta of Myanmar. But as far as the history of her godforsaken country is concerned, it was a momentous occasion indeed, considering that it might signify a long-awaited step towards democracy. As the Nobel Peace laureate herself said in her characteristic self-effacing style, her freedom was not important; that of the country was. This time it appears that the Generals have released her unconditionally after a UN-brokered agreement that may lead to elections within the next few years. How sincere the military regime is will be known in the next few days from the extent of freedom she is actually allowed to enjoy. Right now, it has been given out that there is no restriction on her movement. Only if she is allowed to carry out her political responsibilities without any overt or covert pressure will the government’s gesture have any meaning. While the 12-year political deadlock has continued, she has led her non-violent crusade for democracy in the true tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. It is just that the Generals who have put the famished country behind a bamboo curtain have learnt no lessons from history and are making all the mistakes that only an abominable monster is expected to commit.

Even now, they are listening to the global voice of reason and agreeing to political change only under duress. The economy of Myanmar is in a dismal state. Foreign aid is not forthcoming. Thanks to the unanimous world opinion, the isolation of the junta is near complete. Above all, it is scorned by its own people. Only these circumstances have forced the regime to make virtue out of necessity. Even now, there is no guarantee that they will allow things to move to their logical conclusion. Fortunately for Myanmar, there is a doughty fighter like Aung San Suu Kyi on the scene who has refused to compromise on democratic ambitions of her people although that has marred her personal life. India has maintained a strictly working relationship with the military establishment and its moral support to the struggle for democracy is well known. If the long-awaited changeover does take place, India will have a major role to play not only in the reconstruction of Myanmar but also in its quest for nurturing democracy and realising lasting peace and tranquillity.

Omar's balancing act

MINISTER of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah is a fast learner. The deft handling of the critical issue facing the National Conference as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Part-led National Democratic Alliance during the Opposition-sponsored debate on Gujarat indeed enhanced his stature as a politician who knows how to walk a tight rope. Most allies chose to attack the government because they had to manage the contradiction of sharing power with the "communal" BJP at the Centre and protecting their "secular" constituency in their respective states. But only Mr Ram Vilas Paswan and Mr Omar Abdullah took the morally and politically correct decision of quitting before criticising the government. Of course, Mr Paswan's detractors say that he resigned not because the Prime Minister turned down his demand for sacking Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi but because of the Bahujan Samaj Party-BJP tie-up that helped Ms Mayawati become Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. His resignation was accepted. Mr Abdullah in the course of television interviews during the Lok Sabha debate on Gujarat explained that since his party was opposed to the Central government's handling of the Gujarat situation it would be morally incorrect for him to attack the government while being a part of it. It did make sense. Plus he too like other "secular" allies, including Mr Chandrababu Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party, had to protect his constituency in Kashmir. The fact that the Prime Minister did not accept his offer to resign should in no way be held against him.

Mr Omar Abdullah has barely broken his first political teeth and for a relative greenhorn, who is due to take on the larger responsibility of heading the National Conference, he spoke without rancour but with clarity on the unhappy turn of events in Gujarat. Once the debate was over Mr Abdullah declared that the National Conference would remain with the NDA. It remains to be seen how he manages to sell his party's decision of joining the BJP-led alliance to the Muslim electorate of Jammu and Kashmir. It should not be a difficult task keeps in mind the fact that rarely have Kashmir and non-Kashmiri Muslims shared a common political platform for articulating their common concerns. It is a calculated gamble, but given the fact that it has to fight the Congress in the state the National Conference did not have a choice except to join the NDA at the Centre. Mr Abdullah is aware that the party's principled stand on the Gujarat debate may come in the way of his father, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, being considered a candidate for the post of Vice-President. It is a small price to pay for keeping the politicals of principles alive.

OPINION

A distorted political scenario
Opposition parties in difficult straits
S. Nihal Singh

THE Congress and other opposition parties are trying to find a new centre in a political scenario that has been distorted by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Sangh Parivar. That centre is eluding the parties thus far because while the Congress can hope to go it alone, the others are pulled in different directions by their anti-Congress postures and their desire at the same time to oppose the BJP.

Ms Mayawati’s alliance with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, and the more problematic promise of contesting the Lok Sabha election together, is no more opportunistic than the practices of other parties. But the gloom it has brought about in the BJP camp in the state can do little to enthuse the ranks of the Sangh Parivar and seems destined to end like the preceding two experiments.

The long parliamentary impasse, the acrimonious debates and the ground situation in Gujarat have added up to winners and losers in events increasingly driven by the next general election. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s compulsions to retain Mr Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister have brought the BJP much grief and revealed the fissures in the National Democratic Alliance as constituents such as the Telugu Desam Party and the Trinamool Congress have twisted and turned in the wind.

Each day it became increasingly clear that the TDP’s support to the BJP was predicated upon its own needs and Mr Chandrababu Naidu was the loser in his awkward efforts to preserve his Muslim constituency in Andhra Pradesh while lending support to the coalition government. In the end, his partymen abstained on the vote by indulging in a theatrical walk-out even while later vowing support to Mr Vajpayee. Ms Mamata Banerjee’s plight was even sorrier, seeking to combine as she did her vociferous support to the government while asking for Mr Modi’s resignation.

Indeed, the parliamentary debate in the Lok Sabha, in which Mr George Fernandes showed himself to such disadvantage by the vocabulary he used and the parallels he sought, was Mr Omar Abdullah’s finest hour in postulating the reasons for his party’s abstention in the vote. While there was much breast-beating by the Prime Minister and others over the harm the Gujarat events had done to India’s image in the world, it needed a member of the government publicly to call a spade a spade. Although Mr Abdullah’s offer of resignation was not an earth-shattering event in view of his expected move home to succeed his father in Srinagar, he made his point. On the other hand, the resignation of Mr Ram Vilas Paswan was so enmeshed in UP politics that it did not create many waves.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi rose in stature both through her hard-hitting address in Parliament and during the quick tours she made of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, the latter to highlight Mr Naidu’s embarrassment. She seems to have gained new confidence although it remains to be seen how great her national acceptance will be. Given the nature of Mr Vajpayee’s attitude, it was an easy victory for the Congress.

Which brings us to the Prime Minister. A most charitable view of Mr Vajpayee would be that he was working under such compulsions that he had no room for manoeuvre and his announcement of a relief package for the Gujarat riot victims should have come much earlier. On the other hand, Home Minister L.K. Advani showed presence of mind in his intervention in gently reproving Mr Fernandes for his inexcusable foray into bringing the horrors of murders and rapes to the level of everyday occurrences. Given his proven abilities to switch sides and become the devil’s advocate, it still surpasses comprehension to divine his use of the parliamentary forum to pronounce in minute detail the bestiality of human conduct.

A distressing aspect of the parliamentary debates, as of the general political picture, is that the stalemate between the BJP and the other parties remains unbroken. Going by present trends, the Congress can well emerge as the largest single party in the next general election. But the Left parties are hostile to the Congress in varying degrees and the regional or largely caste-based parties spurn the Congress, except on their own terms.

Gujarat has changed the political equations to an extent because the nature of the BJP’s agenda was on public view. It remains to be seen, for instance, how severely the BSP’s marriage of convenience with the BJP will affect its Muslim following. But it is reasonable to assume that Muslim voters in UP will become more wary of the BSP in the next election. Public memory is proverbially short but Muslims in the country — an important swing vote in many constituencies — will probably return to the Congress for want of a better alternative.

It is still not clear how much the BJP will benefit from the polarisation of Hindu and Muslim communities by unveiling the Sangh Parivar’s programme of action in Gujarat. The arguments are familiar enough, that the majority community is a victim, that nobody weeps for the Godhra victims. Will such arguments sway Hindu voters who have begun to yawn over the Ayodhya issue? Regrettably, the BJP has little to show for the nearly four years it has ruled the country.

Gujarat seems to have shown that given the trends of recent elections, the BJP will play the hard Hindutva line to the hilt. The National Democratic Alliance’s constituents have demonstrated their own compulsions to remain in the coalition, whatever the nature of the provocation. And it would appear that the BJP expects each constituent to peel away from the NDA on an issue of its choosing over the coming months. It has, therefore, not much to lose if the TDP, for instance, goes out to protect its regional constituencies.

The initiative lies with the Congress although the party is in no hurry to precipitate an election. Cobbling together an unsteady coalition would be worse than sitting on the opposition benches. Besides, the issue of Sonia’s leadership continues to dog the party. And it will take the next general election campaign to prove how much of a crowd- and vote-puller she is.

MIDDLE

Filial ingratitude
Darshan Singh Maini

FEW injuries of the spirit are more painful than those inflicted by the very persons whom you considered close to your heart — and, therefore, to your purse and purpose. These wounds never quite heal, and the scars show even after a long passage of time. In the Sikh scriptures, the akirtghan or the ungrateful are specially singled out for the stringest strictures. For such persons break the bonds of man and man, man and family, man and society. In other words, they do dirt on all that we hold dear and holy in human life.

When, therefore, a friend, a colleague, a neighbour whom you have helped in every possible manner in moments of need or urgency turns back viciously on you when he finds an opportunity to do so, you cannot but regard ingratitude as a special kind of evil, perhaps something — primeval, ingrained, inexplicable, something Freudian in its dimensions, indeed. But when this abomination shows up in your sons and daughters, or in brothers and sisters, the bewilderment and pain compel you to ponder the problem of suffering as a natal category, as say, “Cain’s Curse”.

Some years ago I wrote a piece entitled “Pelican Lane”, and in that article I described in some detail the evil of filial ingratitude in my own neighbourhood in its varied forms and aspects. So I was left to brood endlessly over this ubiquitous phenomenon. Hence in this “middle”, I’ll confine my comments to two great books — Shakespeare’s play, King Lear and Balzace’s novel, Old Goriot, both tales of acute spiritual suffering triggered by their own daughters. No son, in these cases, though, as experience shows us, sons more than daughters are prone to treat their aged ailing parents with neglect, contempt and humiliation.

King Lear’s story belongs to the pagan period in England, and the evil-doers, the king’s two daughters abetted by fawning courtiers, give so many turns and twists to “the wheel of suffering” that the old Lear, crownless, wilding over dark heaths in the company of his dear “Fool”, eventually loses his sanity, and when his third daughter, dearest Cordelia, whom he had wronged is crucified by the two elder sisters, the noble king’s heart breaks, and he dies howling, howling over the enormous tragedy. At the time when witless, he was driven out into wind and storm, he uttered those memorable lines:

Filial ingratitude:

Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand for lifting food to it.

And in those moments of horror, he called his ungrateful offspring “Pelican daughters”. It may be recalled here that the mother-pelican feeds her chicks with her own blood to save their lives.” Judicious punishment. It was this flesh begot those pelican daughters.”

Balzac, as we know, is the greatest historian of the French bourgeoisie in fiction, and, as it happens, in Old Goreit, he too takes up the crime of filial ingratitude — the inhumanity of his two married daughters. No, he had no Cordelia to “sweeten” his imagination in hours of contemplation. The tragedy of Goreit doesn’t reach the sublime heights of King Lear, but the sheer meanness, wantonness and viciousness of the daughters married into the French nobility through his own sacrifices appeal the imagination. Could one’s own daughters, “our signatures on parchments of flesh”, as I put it in one of my earlier poems, be so wicked particularly when their father is down and out — thanks to their doings?

OPEN FORUM

As the people see it

THIS refers to Mr Hari Jaisingh’s editorial “No, my Lord!” (May 5). I have been subscribing to The Tribune for the last almost 40 years, ever since I began to work and stay in Chandigarh. I equate this editorial with the indelible “AC-DC”, “The Dhritarashtra”, “Her Waterloo”, etc. Congratulations.

The journalist in Mr Hari Jaisingh has modestly claimed that along with judiciary the Press too has been contributing its mite as a watchdog of public interests. I feel that the Press has been playing a more active role, contributing much more than the judiciary. There may be some black sheep here and there, but the overall situation is that if the Press were not there one can expect much worse from the politician-bureaucrat-police nexus (apologies to Ms Kiran Bedi and Mr S.S. Saini).

A former PPSC member has tried to justify and defend his son’s selection and appointment pleading that he had notified the Chairman and the Secretary of the commission that his son would appear for the examination and, therefore, no relevant papers/documents be sent to him, that he was not associated with the selection process in any way, that he had also not participated in the interview etc and also explaining at length the merits of the candidate. The fact, in the given context, seems to be what the tout has disclosed. These are the usual precautions any government official takes. Here the question is not that of his son’s merit but many better placed meritorious candidates have been rejected. Obviously, his being a Member of the Commission and indulgence saved his son from being rejected in the absence of the “fees” paid.

I am inclined to think that the indulgence of the judiciary here has been necessitated on seeing the “defence” of the father for his son because many more such defending statements may follow suit from many more fathers and well-wishers and such a situation may cause retardation in the current tempo of the investigations.

ARVIND, Chandigarh

Well done

I am happy to know about the efforts to remove corruption by lawyers by calling a meeting and requesting the Chief Justice to look into the behaviour of judges whose names figure in Ravi Sidhu’s case. The Chief Minister of Punjab is doing very well by calling a Cabinet meeting to withdraw the power from the Chief Secretary to grant permission to register a case/ enquiry against an IAS officer as I have seen in the past so many favourites had been saved. It will grant support to the VB in conducting a fair enquiry and now it is up to the Vigilance Bureau to prove before the public how much fair it is.

B. S. GILL, Chandigarh

An extreme step

This refers to the article “Sidhu’s case: High Court gags crusade against corruption” by Anupam Gupta (May 6). Kudos to Mr Gupta for expressing his brave views though with utmost humility and to The Tribune for continuing its crusade against corruption by publishing his views.

It can be made out that the judge has taken this unprecedented extreme step because some heat of exposure of the Sidhu scam was turning towards the judiciary. If public outcry against evils like this is to be gagged, then we are heading towards total genocide of moral values. If such misdeeds are not allowed to be highlighted and it is also an established fact that with the passage of time the powerful are able to make a mockery of the legal system, then we are creating haven for such people. They know that they will ultimately dodge the law but whatsoever public embarrassment was there, they will also be shielded against that.

So Mr Editor kindly continue your fight against the evils though you are always at a risk of inviting the wrath of the powerful lobbies. If risk would have been the only criteria, then nobody would have fought for freedom of the nation.

Dr TIRATH GARG, Ferozepore

Keep it up

I want to applaud the Editor for another great editorial. People of Punjab and Punjabis abroad benefit a lot from your presentation of facts, analysis and your views, which definitely are identical to the views of a vast majority of your readers.

Your coverage of the news pertaining to this fight against corruption and exposing the corrupt officials is extremely praiseworthy. Please keep up the great work

GULSHAN SHARMA, Toronto

Rights infringed

The editorial is a thorough petition and a perfect case for suo motu notice for the infringed rights of the people of the country i.e. “the right to information and the right to transparency”. It was the exposure which motivated many other aggrieved persons to come forward to present their cases to fight corruption which they otherwise could not do because of lack of courage or resources. Exposure enhances confidence of the people towards the authorities, instils fears in the minds of corrupt people, thereby promotes democracy in its right perspective.

DINESH GUPTA, Pathankot

Black sheep

Like me, many might have been flabbergasted on reading the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court prohibiting the investigating agencies and respondents from disclosing the details of the statements and confessions of the accused.

The sufferers at the hands of the PPSC and the public at large have heaved a sigh of relief in the scorching atmosphere of corruption, misgovernance and mismanagement wherein more black sheep through the said commission have crept into the public administration.

Throwing a blanket cover over the facts and information in the matter by the court is not understood. Everybody has the right to information which is being denied by doing so.

The matter does not involve national security nor there is any emergency for doing so.

V. R. KUMAR, Dhilwan

Transparency

The Press and the vigilance team were doing a fine job on the PPSC scam and the whole nation watched a pile of illegal wealth coming out of lockers one after another. The Press, considered as the fourth pillar of democracy, was coming out very well in exposing corruption and bringing facts before the public. The editorial correctly enquires as to why the judiciary should be afraid of transparency or truth being brought out in full public view under media watch.

There are many instances where the Press has blown the lid to expose corruption. Close on the heels of the PPSC scam, the HCS selections have been highlighted by the Press and the common man can guess that now meritorious students are only those who have rich and influential parents. Gone are the days when a poor boy or girl made it to the top with sheer hard work.

Now the public will not be able to know as to what goes on behind the doors till the drama begins in court. It will be a long criss-cross battle as the “law will take its own course”. We may hear one day that the charges against Mr Ravi Sidhu were baseless or he may be indicted by our law. Whatever the outcome of the trial maybe, faith has given place to suspicion by stopping vigilance sleuths from divulging information to the Press.

G. K. S. SIDHU, Barnala

Corrupt system

The erstwhile PPSC Chairman looted the bigwigs & high officials who offered up to Rs 75 lakh to get jobs for their wards. Those who were able to bribe such mind-boggling amounts would have earned it only by equally unfair means. The government must not only review all selections made by Ravi Sidhu but doubly check the antecedents of the officials whose wards made to the top posts via murky lanes of the PPSC.

As it seems the corruption level in our civil society has reached an unbearable level. On the other hand, the case of an Air Marshal who had to quit for trying to get a slightly better posting vividly contrasts with the prevailing mores in our society. Apparently, the armed forces do offer some ray of hope in this corruption-driven scheme of things. Why not have greater say for the armed forces in running the nation to keep corruption some what at bay?

Air Cmde RAGHUBIR SINGH (retd), Pune

Open up, Sidhu

Now that a lot many people are revealing how much they paid to Mr Sidhu, it’s high time Mr Sidhu also revealed the names of people up the hierarchy, whose palms he greased to keep the wheels of his corruption machine running smoothly. The more the number of people involved in the case, the more complicated it will get and the allegations against him will get diluted and he may get a chance to wriggle out of the legal and police web.

Dr AMARPREET SINGH DEOL, Mullanpur

Scams elsewhere

People managing the selection board in Haryana and other states should take note. Next is their turn. The situation is no better at these places. I remember during the Congress party days money was openly asked for. Once we visited the then Education Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Sharma, and asked for justice. He told us: “Justice to one is injustice to another, how can we ignore the paying people.”

VINOD GAUR, Seattle (USA)

Scrap recruitments

All appointments made during the tenure of Ravi Sidhu be scrapped.

This should be done not by the government but by the high court or the Supreme Court taking suo motu notice of media reports and confessions by touts.

PREM GARG, Chandigarh

PPSC selections & a parable

EVERY right-thinking person is all praise for the anti-corruption crusade launched by the Congress government in Punjab. However, the fate of the meritorious and honest candidates whose cases have been frozen in the pipeline brings to my mind the parable of a buffalo calf.

Once some thieves stole a buffalo along with its calf. As they passed by a temple they promised to sacrifice the calf at the goddess’s altar if they were not caught. After some time, the owners of the buffalo also passed that way in search of the thieves. They also promised to sacrifice the calf at the temple if they found out the thieves. Thus, in any case, the calf was doomed to die.

Now all PPSC selected candidates feel like the calf. Their career is in jeopardy because of a few black sheep. If the selections are cancelled and new selections are made after a long-drawn legal battle, the next government may cancel the new selections. Thus, the employees would become shuttle-cocks in the power game. Many of them will soon become overage and many girls will lose their matrimonial prospects.

The best course will be to get an affidavit from each selected candidate that no bribe has been paid to anybody to secure the job. Then the appointment should be made. If any affidavit proves false, the candidate can be prosecuted after dismissal from service.

BASANT SINGH BRAR, Muktsar

CM gets too much mileage

The PPSC corruption case needs to be condemned but let’s beware that Capt Amarinder Singh is taking too much mileage out of it.

It is not surprising that Mr Ravi Sidhu was selling jobs, the real surprise is that he has been caught. Before the Maharaja starts getting credit for weeding out corruption, let him try visit offices of his nearest R.T.O., Tehsildar, PUDA, electricity board or a noble authority like the District Education Office. One visit and he will know the hard fact that in spite of such high sounding departments like vigilance, anti-corruption and income tax, it is old fashion to transact high denomination wads under the table. Let him find out for himself that just like government tariffs there are fixed ‘rates’ for getting a vehicle passed, approval of building plans, completion certificate or getting an electricity connection.

While the Maharaja should thank Mr Ravi Sidhu that he popped out at the right time, it is by no means the end of corruption in Punjab or elsewhere. Remember the party which institutionalised corruption. Remember the party which gave us Sanjay Gandhi, complete power, no authority. Remember how obliging bureaucrats and politicians handed over land for Maruti on the platter but failed to gift-wrap Safdarjung airport by a whisker.

We are not worried that even now contributions to party funds continue to open many doors. May be a Ravi Sidhu here or a Sukh Ram there, corrupt bureaucrats and the politicians will continue to thrive. The cobweb of rules and the authority of the politician will make us to pay the “suvidha shulk” whether we like it or not.

R. CHANDER, New Delhi

Ravi Sidhus are everywhere

Is Ravi Sidhu the only one responsible in this type of mess? The majority of the members with appointing authority in India are Ravi Sidhus. They make millions of rupees in their terms and live aristocratic lives. The written examination being conducted by these commissions and then the interview process is nothing but eyewash.

I myself was the victim of these commissions. I passed the Haryana Civil Service examination (written) three times, and the DSP exam once, but was always ignored in interviews, because of my inability to afford the bribes. In 1982, which was my third attempt in the HCS, I scored 444 out of 700 marks (written) and was placed among the first 10 candidates. At that time, I was working as a lecturer in a college having M.Sc. (Silver Medallist) and a PhD degree. In the interview, I was awarded only 78 marks out of 200. Those candidates, who only obtained 45 per cent marks in the written, were awarded 190 marks out of 200 in the interview. A group of people, like me, challenged the appointments and the court accepted the writ petition. Justice Sandhawalia, in his judgement rejected the interview marks and ordered the commission to appoint the candidates on the basis of the written exam marks only. The other party went to Supreme Court and ultimately the case went to the Full Bench. The Full Bench listened to the louder voice and silent the feeble voice. To console us, the Full Bench said they are setting some guidelines applicable from next time, with the help of which the Public Commission appointments would be fair. Did this happen?

I felt so depressed that I thought to leaving my motherland. After a few years of effort, I settled in the USA I have obtained a US patent, an excellent post as a Senior Scientist, and a recognised place in society. But still, I am a dejected person, disappointed by all these Ravi Sidhus. Who made these Ravi Sidhus? Are they their own creations? Why do they only grow in societies like India? Is it not the corrupt system prevailing in India that makes these Ravi Sidhus in every nook and corner? Are the corrupt politicians not responsible for this faulty system? When will these politicians be able to reform themselves? Who else will shoulder these responsibilities?

Dr BIR GUJRAL, USA