M A I L B A G

Favouring the elite Dalits in Punjab

The Punjab government has implemented the 85th constitutional amendment without defining the adequacy of posts to be reserved for the SC/ST employees. This provides for seniority to the latter from the date of out-of-turn promotion on the basis of reservation already made by the government in all the categories of posts in all the departments and corporations.

In future, all the likely vacant posts at top level would go to the SC/ST employees as they would be senior to their counterparts following their earlier promotions because of reservation already given by the government. The implications of the Amendment without defining its adequacy would be felt after a few years and effective administration would be the first casualty.

The elite Dalits already enjoying the benefits of reservation have now been given the moon without asking for it. They had sought adequate representation in all the posts commensurate with reservation at the induction level. The Amendment would not give benefits to poor Dalits as claimed by the government; it will tear apart the state’s social fabric.

V.K. GUPTA, Ropar

II

The 85th Amendment will go against the Amarinder Singh government. Resentment is brewing among various sections similar to the one that had prevailed during the V.P. Singh’s government at the Centre after the implementation of the Mandal Commission Report.

Surprisingly, under the garb of helping the poor, vote banks are being secured and the creamy layer among the Dalits is being benefited. By implementing the 85th Amendment, Captain Amarinder Singh has turned the upper castes against the Congress.

SURINDER MOHAN SINGLA, Bathinda

III

The 85th Amendment will adversely affect the federal polity and governance. Consider how I was a victim of the roster system in the Northern Railway. In 1992, in the Enquiry and Reservation cadre (Rs 2000-3200 grade), as three-fourths of the employees were SC/ST, those in the General category had to suffer. I got this grade in 1993 for just six months whereas a SC employee, junior to me by eight years, got this grade in 1986!

We must fight tooth and nail quotas of all kinds. Moreover, the creamy layer among the SC/ST categories is mostly knocking off the benefit of quota. Clearly, quotas should be given only to the economically poorer sections and not to SC, ST or OBCs.

SHER SINGH, Ludhiana

IV

It is ridiculous that while the Punjab government has decided to implement the 85th Amendment for promoting in-service SC/ST/OBC officers and employees, Punjab PCC president Shamsher Singh Dullo admitted that reservation should not be given to the creamy layer. The government should not try to confuse the General category people by issuing sympathetic statements. Instead it should take one stand and face elections.

AJAY SINGH GREWAL, Patiala

V

Reservation in promotions is highly unjustified. It is against the spirit of the Constitution. It is unbecoming, undignified and disrespectful to work as subordinate to a person, much junior to him. It ignores intellect, capability and experience.

It also causes heart burning among the employees. It creates a hostile and tense atmosphere and adds to the employee’s anguish. Through reservation, politicians play the dirty game to gain political mileage.

CHAMAN SINGLA, Bhucho (Bathinda)

VI

If the Punjab government really wants to help Dalits win the State Assembly elections, it should exclude the creamy layer among them (who are well-to-do, income-tax assessees and government employees) from the purview of reservation. Instead, only the real poor Dalits and backward classes should be given such benefit.

BIKRAMJIT SINGH, Mohalla Gobindgarh (Nawanshahr)

Recruit the best

I endorse Pritpal Singh’s view in his letter “Filling vacancies” (Nov 22) that the Punjab government should attract bright and hard working candidates through competitive examinations for filling the post of doctors. It assumes more significance owing to following reasons:

First, there are hundreds of candidates who have obtained their degrees from other state universities, some of which are not recognised by the MCI or the DCI. Moreover, one cannot judge the merit of these candidates owing to disparity in the marks system in those universities. Second, it is very difficult for a brilliant open category candidate with weak financial background to open his/her own clinic. Many of them are doing jobs on meager salaries in private clinics.

   RAJESH SHARMA, Jalandhar Cantonment

Kurukshetra as education city While endorsing Professor Abhai Maurya’s article “Building education city” (Nov 10), Haryana deserves a centre of excellence in higher education, capable of attracting students from different countries. Kurukshetra must be developed as an education city. Kurukshetra is the first university on the planet because the universal message of knowledge, truth and philosophy of life was given by Lord Krishna Himself in person in the form of Bhagwad Gita, which is the basic purpose of a university. For the growth and success of Kurukshetra University at the international level, all the educational programmes should be reoriented in course and content with spiritual input. It should be recognised as a centre of excellence in value-based education. Dr M.M. GOEL, Kurukshetra