M A I L B A G

SC ruling on quota must be implemented

The Supreme Court ruling that “States cannot enforce quota in unaided professional colleges” (Aug 13) is welcome. The Centre would do well to implement it in toto. Parliament should not short-circuit it by bringing in another legislation restoring the state quota in these institutions.

The apex court feels that quotas must go and merit must be recognised. So, what’s the problem? Here is an opportunity for our politicians and policymakers to recognise merit and rejuvenate the unaided colleges. There should be no quotas for anyone. The poorer sections even among upper castes, SC/ST, OBCs, minorities all deserve financial help but no quotas please.

The political parties would do well to avoid petty politics on this issue and implement the Supreme Court judgement in letter and spirit in the larger interest of the country.

DEEPAK SARAF, Rampura Phul

II

Actually, the politicians care two hoots about the nation. Their sole interest is to secure their own vote banks by hook or by crook. In spite of the sad experience of the last five decades, the politicians are continuing this unethical and damaging policy of reservation that has virtually destroyed the public sector.

Moreover, reservations are against human rights and equality. Hope the Prime Minister would use his intelligence and shoot down any such absurd proposal to overturn the Supreme Court ruling. In the larger interest of the nations and humanity, reservations should be abolished once and for all.

A.K. SHARMA, Chandigarh

III

Politicians of all hues have been making loud noise over the judgement, fearing that it may cut their vote banks. Admittedly, there is a strong case for bringing the weaker sections of all communities to the mainstream. This being the position, the onus of such action is on the state and not on private unaided institutions.

Therefore, the best thing would be for the state itself to earmark a sizeable number of seats in government/aided professional colleges free to such deserving cases without being partisan to any community.

As for their study expenses during the course, recognised political parties should adopt these free seat occupants and see through their entire course expenses.

Rather than doing such acts, the politicians are making a hue and cry for nothing. It is absolutely wrong to tax unaided institutions on this score.

Capt O. MATHAI (retd), Thiruvananthapuram

IV

The Supreme Court verdict will further enhance social disparity in our society. These colleges should admit students purely on merit, irrespective of the community they belong. Moreover, raising the fee without government control will make these institutions inaccessible to poor students. The Centre and the states should rein them in.

MOHAN SINGH THAKUR, Chandigarh

V

The ruling has cleared all the mist and confusion regarding the right of the private professional colleges to regulate admissions and to determine their fee structure without government interference.

Since these institutions do not receive any grant-in-aid from the government, they are not bound to follow quotas and similar directives of the state government. However, there is confusion over the status of B.Ed colleges? Are they professional or not? The authorities concerned should clarify.

Dr S.C. SINHA, Kurukshetra

Full of potholes

The road between Nangal and Anandpur Sahib is full of potholes. It has not been repaired despite several complaints. The vehicle users are facing problems. The potholes are the main cause of road accidents in this stretch. The stretch between Naya Nangal to Mehatpur is horrible. The Chief Minister should take personal initiative and get the road repaired at the earliest.

A.K. SOBTI, Naya Nangal

Politics over Sutlej bridge This has reference to the news-item “Bridge sealed to avert Cong-SAD faceoff” (Aug 12). The Rahon-Macchiwara bridge on the Sutlej belongs to the people who have a right to use it. Neither the Congress nor the Shiromani Akali Dal can claim credit for it. The bridge was not built overnight. It has taken years. I suggest a senior social worker of the area with no political affiliation or the seniormost construction engineer to declare the bridge open. If the present impasse continues, someone will seek directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court for declaring the bridge open as was done in the case of the Dera Bassi Bridge on the Chandigarh-Ambala Road. K.S. GREWAL, Chandigarh