M A I L B A G

Amend Act to court-martial ex-servicemen

The editorial “It’s the pits” (April 30) rightly describes the act of Lt-Col S.P. Singh (retd) as a disgrace. This reminds me the famous words of Emerson: “Society is a masked ball where everyone hides his/her real character and reveals it by hiding.” The dismissed Sainik Welfare Officer has surpassed all norms and decency expected of him.

As a retired soldier, with 40 years of experience in the Indian Navy, I suggest the government to amend the Army, Navy and Air Force Act and make it applicable even to the retired soldiers working in organisations like the Sainik Welfare Office, corporations, boards, etc. Had this provision been in the statute, the guilty officer could have been court-martialled for the heinous crime he has committed.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur (HP)

II

Col JASWANT SINGH CHANDEL (retd), Kalol (HP)

III

I was ashamed to read the report in The Tribune. But then, Lt-Col S.P. Singh (retd) is not the only corrupt Sainik Welfare Officer. A large number of them are involved in such enterprising ventures. Today many SWOs are collecting such “donations”. Every day, we read reports about bunglings in arms deals, liquor sales from the Defence Services’ Canteen Stores Depots, recruitment and so on.

I wonder what has happened to this class, which was once known for its high integrity, loyalty and good moral conduct. Loyalty to the country and to the troops we commanded was always the highest emotional bond.

Major M.P.S. BHULLAR, Mohali

IV

A Sainik Welfare Officer accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 is an eye-opener, indicating the extent of harm these men are doing to the good image of the Services. These corrupt officers are a blot on the system and a shame on the entire officers’ cadre. There must be stringent punishment for such culprits to protect the image of the Services.

Capt R.P.S. KANG, Jalandhar

V

The involvement of a Sainik Welfare Officer in corruption will bring the Army to disrepute. Persons like him should be given exemplary punishment. The incident shows that indiscipline and corruption are at the peak in the Indian armed forces.

Mohd SHAFI, Gurgaon

VI

I am unable to believe how could an officer, entrusted with such a responsible task, cross the limits of unscrupulousness. Such persons deserve the severest punishment to act as a deterrent. The government needs to check the antecedents of persons before recruiting them as Sainik Welfare Officers. Experience in the Services should not be sole criterion for appointment as SWOs.

The authorities should also probe the misuse of the Flag Day fund. Misappropriation of this fund should be treated as a serious offence because this has become an approved method of taking bribe by the officers at the districts and the sub-divisions.

SWARAN SINGH, Bathinda

VII

The editorial “It’s the pits” (April 30) holds the view that the Indian Army is one of the few institutions in the country that is free from corruption. This is not correct. Instances of corruption cannot be described as “institutional drawbacks”.

The Army is corrupt as any other government department. Just check the number of defence vehicles roaming around in Bathinda city. This will prove my point.

DINESH ARORA, Bathinda

VIII

Yatha Raja Tatha Praja. If we have tainted and corrupt ministers, MPs, MLAs and bureaucrats, we now have corrupt Sainik Welfare Officers too. This is not surprising. The entire system is polluted. The President and the Prime Minister seem helpless to stem the rot.

We need clean men and women at the top. Only then, we will have clean officers with high integrity and rectitude. And the country shall develop a national character.

SUDESH KUMAR SOOD, Tarn Taran

Time to privatise PSEB The engineers and staff of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) should openly welcome privatisation as it is common knowledge that if a department comes under private authority, general efficiency would improve. Government employees know that their job is secure and therefore waste time. There seems to be overwhelming support for the privatisation of the PSEB to increase its working capacity and profitability. Prof P.K. GUPTA, Bathinda

Flawed method

This has reference to a report that some prisoners who are executed by lethal injection in the US may be conscious and in pain. This form of execution, hailed by supporters as humane, is so flawed in practice that it falls below even veterinary  standards for putting down sick  animals.

Responding to this, may we, as staunch opponents of the death penalty, mention this requiem? : Kill me gentle/ For you know not/ Not for sure/ Whether I am guilty.

NORMA LOUIS, C. ANTONY LOUIS, Mumbai