M A I L B A G

Justice delayed due to shortage of judges

The Supreme Court has recently asked the states to undertake large-scale appointment of judges before March 31, 2003. The apex court has directed that the recruitment be done after examining the judge-population ratio because crores of cases are pending in the subordinate courts on account of shortage of judges.

The current litigation ratio is 13 judges per 10 lakh people. The Bench said that an independent and efficient judicial system is necessary which is one of the basic structures of the Constitution. If a sufficient number of judges are not appointed justice would not be available to the people.

The 85th report of the standing committee on legal delays has given some shocking revelations. That there are 24 million cases pending in the courts all over the country and some of these have been pending since 1950.

There are about 107 judges in the USA for one million people, which is eight times than in India. Seven more judges have recently been appointed for the Punjab and Haryana High Court, but this is still less than the sanctioned strength.

M. L. GARG, Chandigarh

Technical education Rajeev Prasher in his letter “Posers to technical education teachers” (July 16) has raised a pertinent point. Engineering college teachers, devoid of ground experience of industry, just cannot prepare their students to face the challenges in the field after completing their theoretical education. Technical teachers must be sent on deputation to industry at least for one year after every three years. The fine example of continuing education in the defence forces can be emulated as a role model. In today’s age of fast-changing technology and industrial environment it is important for a teacher to keep abreast with the changes. But all this requires extra effort, zeal and sincere dedication, the qualities rarely to be found in people used to a cushy lifestyle. A rightly brought out by the author, there is a dire need for serious rethinking in the matter. Lt Col BHAGWANT SINGH (retd), Mohali

Time to act

The Supreme Court direction requiring all candidates filing nominations for election to the state legislatures and Parliament to declare their assets and criminal record, if any, could not have come at a more opportune time. Although the citizens are happy and see a ray of hope in this, shockingly we have also seen the near unanimous response of the political parties to negate this just and bold directive.

Ever since this cancer of criminalisation of politics creeping in our body-politic, all the parties, whether in power or opposition, started crying hoarse with accusations against one another. No party has the courage to back up such a move towards transparency, which can be a harbinger of a sweeping change towards clean politics.

Should we not take up an action plan to force our representatives in the city, state and national legislatures, to which ever party they belong, to accept the directions of the Supreme Court? Let us not just sit back and mull over the malaise that has crept into our society. Let us act before it eats into the sinews of our national polity and destroys it completely.

YOGINDER DIWAN, Chandigarh

Kashmir scenario

Hari Jaisingh’s article “USA, India and Pakistan” was a solemnly apt requiem mass for those killed fiendishly and in sheer madness by terrorists in their latest mayhem in Jammu and the deep sense of gloom and sadness it caused for the umpteenth time. We now owe it to ourselves that we stop looking at the Kashmir scenario with our eyes shut wide and start looking at the naked and bitter truth in the mirror of reality. Pakistan has converted Kashmir into a slaughterhouse. America, the self-appointed international cop with omnipotent and omniscient high tech capabilities, is giving no signal as to where it would stand if the chips are down between India and Pakistan in a mortal combat with the monstrosity of terrorism, which it professes to loathe with clenched teeth after the 9/11 assault.

R. C. KHANNA, Amritsar

Tackling Pakistan: I fully share the concern of the writer over cross-border terrorism and the dubious games played by General Musharraf and fundamentalists. All that is happening is a great headache for us. Also this has posed a great challenge to our leadership which needs to be more firm and far-sighted in taking the bull by the horns.

Looking at the past experience, we shall have to cast off soft, low-profile image and develop a strong political will coupled with a killer’s spirit. Our policy of appeasement and passive diplomacy has done us a lot of damage. Let us evolve diplomatic activism.

Our diplomats abroad need to be more assertive and active and our values, basic elements like secularism, liberalism, cultural aspects, what we stand for and what Pakistan, a terrorist state, is doing must be projected widely at different world fora so that we are able to win over global goodwill and understanding of our perceptions. Only then more pressure can be mounted against Islamabad. The American leadership, at present not sympathetic to our viewpoint, must be mobilised to use its influence or good offices against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. I fully agree with Hari Jaisingh “that the world community ought to see through the General’s dubious games so that global war against terrorism becomes well focused and does not remain selective.”

K. L. BATRA, Yamunanagar

Ex-soldiers’ grouse

The reservation quota in the case of wards of ex-servicemen for admissions to professional institutions has been reduced from 4 to 2 per cent by the Punjab Government. This ruling is effective from the current academic session. This decision, according to the government was taken on the advice of some ex-servicemen welfare organisation. I have myself been involved in the welfare activities of ex-servicemen for the last six years. No such proposal was ever mooted in the rallies/meetings of ex-servicemen.

If at all this quota was required to be separated from the one allotted to paramilitary forces, it should have been done keeping in view of the population of each beneficiary. For example, there are six lakh ex-servicemen in the state whereas the strength of retired paramilitary personnel is not more than 1.75 lakh. Hence, an equal division of reservation seems biased against the interests of ex-servicemen. Will the Government of Punjab rectify this anomaly?

Col KULDIP SINGH GREWAL (retd), Patiala

Encroachments in HP

All encroachments on government forest lands in Himachal are being regularised by charging a nominal fee. The process is to be completed by August 15, 2002. This is being done by the present government with an eye on the coming elections.

I. D. SHARMA, Shimla

Bus terminal

Hoshiarpur’s bus stand has been closed for construction work for the last two years and the main road facing it is used as a make-shift bus stand. Passing through the bus stand from Prabhat Chowk is an adventure in itself but I will advise this feat to be undertaken by an experienced driver or a rally driver with a death wish.

Buses are parked on the main road. The booking counter is placed on the main road. About 50-60 buses are lined up on the road. I pray to God and the administration for some appropriate action.

CHHAMINDERJIT, Hoshiarpur