M A I L B A G

Dissolution of Bihar House improper

the two articles on the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly by legal luminaries Fali S. Nariman and P.P. Rao (May 29 and 30) were interesting and of highly educative value. In the era of fractured verdicts at the Centre and in the states, horse-trading in the form of bribe or berth in the ministry has become an in-built feature of the system. How else is a coalition cobbled up? It is far from just a meeting of hearts. So what was happening in Bihar was nothing new.

However, where was the need for the Union Cabinet to recommend dissolution of the Assembly in the midnight? This was improper and there were other reasons behind the dissolution. If Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal had benefited from the split in the Lok Janshakti Party, would the Prime Minister have taken the step of dissolving the Assembly, calling it the “worst type of horse-trading”?

Wg-Cdr C.L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

II

The like-minded parties of the UPA could have resolved the Bihar problem, but its constituent heroes were trapped in their own pre-agenda conditions. The Congress remained a silent spectator all throughout. Perhaps Mr Paswan tried different ways to resolve the tangle, but the miracle did not happen and the BJP-JD (U) members remained intact with their parties.

When the LJP men defected, the Assembly was dissolved immediately on charges of horse-trading. If the voters again vote for a hung Assembly, will the major parties not show their cards? Will they again continue to wait for Governor’s rule and the Assembly dissolution?

O.P. PANJETA, Chandigarh

Repairs: Ambala sets example On June 11, the railway authorities made good arrangements for ferrying passengers following the closure of the Kalka-Chandigarh-Ambala section to get two bridges repaired for about 12 hours. In European countries, normally track maintenance is carried out on Sundays and, alternatively, passengers travel by buses on the same railway tickets. This system was introduced in Goa section over a decade back following a derailment. By and large, the railways are providing good service though there is scope for further improvement. All other railway divisions should follow the Ambala example in the event of traffic disruption. Er O.P. GARG, Patiala

Focus on Collectors

V. Eshwar Anand’s article “The cutting edge: Restoring the primacy of Collectors” (June 4) refers to the classic example of Bihar in which upright Collectors have been transferred under political pressure. By transferring C.K. Anil (Siwan) and K.K. Pathak (Gopalganj), Governor Buta Singh has committed a constitutional fraud.

How can Prime Minister Manmohan Singh advice Chief Ministers and Governors to resist political pressure as he himself has caved in to the pressure of leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav?

GEETANJALI KORPAL, Amritsar

II

I am happy that the Prime Minister has promised to help Collectors with a fixed tenure to produce the desired results. Conversely, if honest officers are transferred at the behest of the politicians, it would demoralise the bureaucracy. Hence, there should be a clear-cut transfer policy which must be strictly followed.

Undue political interference in the day-to-day administration must be checked. Corrupt and dishonest officers deserve severe punishment, not just transfer.

MOHAMMAD YAHYA, Chandigarh

III

As the Collector is the backbone of the government, this post needs to be insulated from political interference so that he/she can act independently and strive for socio-economic justice which the Prime Minister has emphasised at the Collectors’ conference. Development goals are meaningless if Collectors are forced to follow the dictates of the politicians. The whole effort should be aimed at taking the benefits of various schemes to the doorsteps of the people.

KOMAL SANDHU, Ludhiana

IV

If a Collector with a “fixed tenure” behaves like a superior to an elected representative, the district administration will suffer. But if both work in tandem for people’s welfare, then a fixed tenure for officers like the District Collector or the Deputy Commissioner is welcome. The administrators must be properly trained on how to deal with the politicians. Similarly, politicians should not misuse their positions and use officers for partisan ends.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

V

Today, the Collectors do not enjoy the powers that their predecessors had enjoyed earlier. Some politicians even in a small state like Himachal Pradesh treat them as clerks. Those who refuse to carry out their orders are shunted out.

The Collectors should be role models of honesty and hard work. People remember the services rendered by good Collectors after years. Mrs Anuradha Thakur, the then Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, is an example.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari-Hamirpur