L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

It isn’t mere stink; we live among skunks

HK. Dua’s front-page editorial, “The stink of corruption” (April 29) is a timely caution to an imperilled generation. When the first Public Service Commission was set up in Punjab, candidates and their guardians believed that merit will be given due importance in the selection process. The system weathered all sorts of twists.

After Punjab’s reorganisation in 1966, a chief minister defined merit by declaring recommendation as an amalgam thereof. The PSC Chairman sworn in at his instance fixed a consideration for the DSPs’ selection. Smuggling which enjoyed state patronage ever since the days of Raj became a semi-official business because smugglers could get persons of their choice recruited as officers.

A Revenue Minister went a step further. He laid down that any officer found guilty of corruption could be condoned if he pledged after taking a holy bath that he would desist the temptation. Thus, corruption got divine exemption as well.The malaise is much deeper in the universities. Hence it is not mere stink. We live among skunks. The present generation should decide how to restore the derailed system back on the track.

HAZARA SINGH, (Ex-Professor, PAU), Ludhiana

II

Mr Dua’s editorial makes thoughtful reading. The common man is baffled. Today we bring corrupt people on the stage and garland them. Lest we go astray, stringent measures are required to check corruption — the cancer of society.

Unfortunately, the anti-corruption and vigilance officers are most corrupt. Not only the IAS, even our so-called leaders have a criminal background. Bharat is a God-fearing state, but shockingly our religious places too are not free from corruption. The future of the nation where teachers and doctors are traders, I am afraid, is bleak. May God save the country!

BAKHSHISH SINGH ARORA, Jalandhar

III

The politicians, the bureaucrats and the police are all corrupt to the core. Hardly any officer is bothered to protect his clean image. Sadly, the people have also become immune to it; they will do anything to grease the palms of the officers to get their work done.

Satya meva jayate, which adorns our Parliament House, has become a showpiece. In a way, the people themselves are responsible for the sad state of affairs. Let us resolve to work with a will to shun the corrupt as a public vice in our dealings.

GURDEV SINGH, Mohali

IV

Corruption is generally a middle class affair, involving all the layers. It is rarely acknowledged that those who are bribed on an occasion are seldom unhappy about it. On the other hand, they are willing to oblige those who promise them rewards of one or the other kind in return; it is a wise investment to garner benefits in the immediate, near and distance future.

Surprisingly, those who should know about this rarely speak about this spectacle. In any case, it speaks volumes for the importance of those who are expected to intervene at critical junctures such as this.

AKHILESH, Birampur (Hoshiarpur)

V

Not only bureaucrats but also hundreds of our tainted ministers, MPs, MLAs etc are all entrapped in cases of embezzlement, corruption and abuse of power. The people have lost faith in Parliament, state legislatures and courts. Justice delayed is justice denied and this itself amounts to contempt of the entire judicial process.

Politicians, despite embroiled in innumerable scandals, continue to loot the exchequer with impunity and yet go scotfree. Major scandals like the fodder purchase scam, the Taj Corridor project and the Telgi stamp in which politicians are involved are yet to be finalised.

JAI GOPAL KUSLA, Ludhiana

VI

Mr Dua has very forcefully brought out the extent of corruption prevailing in our society. Corruption is the worst type of evil our society is suffering from. It is the mother of most of other evils, injustice being foremost of them.

Nothing can be more harmful to society than an indiscriminate and biased decision taken by a person in authority under the influence of greed. Most of our welfare schemes have failed because of corruption.

Admittedly, corruption has been accepted as a way of life by both the practitioners and the victims. Those in power are not interested in eradicating it because they are its beneficiaries. The only way to eradicate this evil is to give the power of eradication to its victims. Yes, it is possible.

Lt-Col H.S. GUR (retd), Hisar

Select teachers fairly In The Tribune advertisement (August 29, 2007), the qualification for the recruitment for the post of Physical Training Master/ Mistress (DPE) was “Graduate from a recognised university with training in advance physical training course degree or diploma”. The applicants who have postgraduate degree in physical education have been ignored. Perhaps Punjab’s DPI (SS) feels that the post-graduate degree is inferior to the degree or diploma in physical education. Moreover, the broadband service is not available in all the villages of Punjab. What has the DPI done for the candidates belonging to rural areas? Finally, merit lists have been prepared on the basis of “tentative merit marks”. It is not understood as and when “tentative merit marks” will become final merit marks. Will the minister concerned ensure fair selection of teachers? HARBANS LAL BALI, Mohali

Encroachments

PUDA land has been encroached upon in the Urban Estate, Bathinda, for long. No eviction has been carried out despite court decrees. Under public pressure in 2004, plot numbers 85 to 109, all 500 sq yds, were got vacated by the then ACA. About 400 families were evicted after 20 years.

Occupants on plot numbers 16 to 20 and 446 to 659 in Phase II are yet to be evicted. Also Part I, Phase III, is under illegal occupation. This land is worth Rs 1,000 crore.

Lt-Col DAYA SINGH (retd), Bathinda

No amenities

The House Allotment Committee of the Chandigarh Administration has issued allotment letters to allottees of Type III newly built houses in Sector 43, Chandigarh. After taking possession racing against the 14-day deadline, the allottees found that they could not shift to these houses immediately in the absence of water and electricity connections. Even the sewerage and drainage manholes have been left uncovered.

Officials are not available at the site to help and guide the allottees. Allotment of these houses without basic facilities has caused considerable financial loss and unnecessary harassment to the allottees.

RAJESH GAUR, Chandigarh