M A I L B A G

Resolving the office of profit tangle

In his article on office of profit, Subhash C. Kashyap has rightly shown deep concern about the lust of legislators seeking another office of profit. The million dollar question is: when “one office, one pay” is the accepted norm, why should the lawmakers themselves break the law?

This is contrary to the spirit and object of Articles 14, 102 and 191 of the Constitution. The legislators are exploiting a sentence in sub-clause (a) of Cause (1) of Articles 102/191 which empowers the legislature to declare an office of profit as no disqualification. Such pieces of legislation are retrogressive and the causa causans of spreading corruption amongst the legislators.

I therefore strongly plead before the powers that be to delete the impugned provision in clause (1) (a) of Articles 102/192 and to adopt one office, one pay rule.

Dr DEVINDER SINGH, Advocate, Amritsar

No state funeral

We do not know why the Shaurya Chakra awardee Captain Sumit Kohli, who died under mysterious circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir, was not given a state funeral. Reports that he allegedly committed suicide and hence the decision against the state funeral does not stand the test of scrutiny.

Ironically, not long ago, the same officer was awarded the Saurya Chakra for his outstanding act of bravery while fighting the terrorists in the Kashmir valley. As the Army inquiry into his death is underway, instead of being rule-bound like a bureaucrat, the Army should have accorded him state funeral on the basis of his exemplary record.

SANTOSH KUMAR SINGH, Chandigarh

Staggered polls

The editorial “Why stagger elections?” (April 15) is timely. There is no logic in the decision of the Election Commission to stagger the election for weeks and months and holding the nation’s breath to know the results.

Admittedly, the security risk won’t be reduced by staggering the elections. The governments are capable of providing adequate security for one-day polls. In fact, staggered elections will impose greater burden on the forces as they have to remain deployed for the custody of the ballot boxes for inordinately longer periods.

The cost of deployment of these forces and keeping the law and order machinery on high alert for weeks following the elections is hardly justified. Hopefully, the Election Commission shall seriously ponder over the advice in the editorial.

D.P. KARKARA, Kurukshetra

Indiscriminate felling

I was shocked to read the report about the felling of 84 trees, including the mighty and graceful deodars, hundreds of saplings and many more nursery plants allegedly by the PWD for road construction in Nagru Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandi. Himachal is fast losing its precious green cover to unscrupulous elements.

The minister and his colleagues should know that the loss in terms of erosion of ecology, habitat and the role of green cover in combating increasing Co2 levels is invaluable.

SUBHASH C. SHARMA, Palampur

Drunken cops

It is indeed shocking to know how high-ranking police officials can behave so irresponsibly. They have become a law unto themselves. Instead of obeying the law, they break every law and present a very bad picture of police brutality to the people at large. Such shameful acts must be condemned and culprits identified and punished.

RAMESH GUPTA, Narwana (Haryana)

True role models

Recently, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani has advised Muslim youth to shun violence and treat Sania Mirza and Irfan Pathan as role models. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam too is a symbol of simplicity, honesty and goodness. This is a very sound advice.

This should be followed not only by Muslim youths but all others. Sania and Irfan have done India proud and are our true role models. They are the proud children of Mother India.

A.S. DHUGGA, Panchkula