M A I L B A G

Prompt justice: Jodhpur court sets example

THE report that Jodhpur’s fast track court sentenced two persons, accused of raping a German tourist, to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 each, will be welcomed by one and all (June 2). Justice has been delivered in 18 days with the help of the Rajasthan High Court. All the courts should follow this example.

The punishment given to the culprits in this case will serve as a deterrent. Speedy trial with exemplary punishment can check the incidence of rape. The public, the press and the law enforcing agencies should play a special role in exposing the culprits of rape and murder and in providing adequate evidence in the courts so that the criminals are punished promptly.

The families and the relatives of such criminals should disown them and society should boycott and isolate them so that this social crime is checked.

NETAR CHAND CHANDEL, Aslamabad (Hoshiarpur)

II

The Jodhpur fast track court has stunned the country by pronouncing its judgement within 18 days and awarding two culprits life imprisonment for rape. The court has also directed the state government to give Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the victim, a German tourist. This judgement has proved that the fault is not with the law but with the enforcing authorities.

BANSI RAM, Chakhajipur (Hoshiarpur)

III

The editorial “Real fast justice” (June 3) rightly observes that quick dispensation of justice is bound to be a great deterrent to crime, especially rape which carries a heavy social stigma. The guidelines issued by the Jodhpur Bench to the police, the government and the judiciary for quick dispensation of cases involving sexual abuse should be implemented across the country.

Admittedly, the higher courts should be equally sensitive of the guilty appeals. Travesty of justice is illustrated in Himachal Pradesh where a Head Master found guilty of raping a handicapped girl was sentenced by a lower court. However, upon appeal, he was set free by the High Court and after 10 years of humiliation and frustration endured by the victim, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s judgement! Such legal anomalies too must be addressed to restore people’s faith in the judiciary.

Brig H.S. CHANDEL (retd), Una

Improving literacy in Punjab THERE is something seriously wrong with the management, administration and supervision of education. Funds are sanctioned for various schemes but are seldom used for the purpose intended. In primary education, Punjab is at the bottom. Against the national average of enrolment of 98 per cent for boys and 93 per cent for girls, the figures for Punjab are 68 per cent and 74 per cent respectively (2003-04). In literacy, Punjab’s position is 16. In budget allocation for elementary education, among 35 states and union territories, Punjab’s rank is 31, having spent only 28.5 per cent as against the national average of 50.5 per cent. Against this background, literacy rates are likely to go down further. Punjab must take up the challenge and fight illiteracy in the schools. Dr T.R. SHARMA, Patiala

Interest on EPF

The Centre has decided to pay interest on EPF @ 9.5 per cent for 2004-05. I request the government to pay the same rate of interest to all other government employees who have saved money from their salaries in PF, PPF and so on.

The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister should take a favourable decision in this regard.

S.K. CHAWLA, Kotkapura  (Punjab)

Nehru’s grace

I would like to narrate an incident related to the late Jawaharlal Nehru. It was the first week of May, 1964. Nehru was not keeping good health. He was on his way to attend a function at Bombay. At the airport, there were many dignitaries to receive him. Nehru was looking frail and tired. A charming Vyjayantimala greeted him with a gracious smile. To pep up his spirits, she said, “Panditji, you look active and agile”.

The witty Nehru amusingly retorted, Unke dekhne se jo aa jati hai moonh pe rounaq, woh samjhatain hain ki mareej ka haal acha hai! (On seeing the onlooker if I get some glow on my face, the onlooker presumes me hale and hearty!) Alas! Nehru breathed his last on May 27, 1964.

KHUSHHA THAKUR, Rampur Bushahr (HP)

Point of interest

There is one point of particular interest about Erik Linklater’s novel ‘The Impregnable Women’, which is the subject of Raj Chatterjee’s ‘The Love Strike’ (June 10). Its theme is the women very firmly denying the husbands their conjugal rights in order to force them to forsake the path of war and instead to live in a peaceful world.

Precisely the same is the theme of the play called ‘Lysistrata’ by the Greek playwright Aristophanes, who lived from about 440 BC to 380 BC. In fact, the name of the heroine of Linklater’s novel, that is, Lysistrata, has been taken from the title of the play of Aristophanes.

SAROOP KRISHEN, Chandigarh