The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Letters to the Editor

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

High Court verdict is in right spirit

Why should the higher judiciary try to evade the RTI Act? (editorial, “Verdict for transparency: CJI should accept the Delhi HC ruling”, Jan 14). In no way would the application of the RTI Act hamper the independence of the judiciary. Nor would it erode their credibility and moral authority. On the other hand it will surely promote transparency, ensure accountability and strengthen our democracy.

The judiciary has always played a pivotal role in ensuring constitutional propriety and has discharged its responsibility without prejudice or bias. It should also remain above board and beyond the scope of any suspicion or controversy on the issue of the RTI which otherwise could undermine its moral position in public eye.

VED GULIANI, Hisar

The editorial has rightly appreciated the landmark ruling of the Delhi High Court. The judiciary must keep itself above suspicion to preserve impartiality and independence.

Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan would not be sending a right signal to the nation by not accepting the verdict when he knows fully well that the judiciary too has many a black sheep. Acceptance of the ruling would surely enhance his prestige and that of the judiciary.

Capt. SK DATTA, Abohar

III

The editorial reflects the voice of the common man. In the name of the independence of judiciary, transparency should not be sacrificed. Transparency would lend more credibility to the judiciary.

JAGDISH MITTER GANDHI, Gurgaon

Inculcate discipline

Discipline is the basic foundation of society. If we expect discipline from others then we must be disciplined too. Any organisation or institution, or for that matter even a family, can run smoothly only with discipline.

Indiscipline leads to chaos. Indians have tremendous potential and can lead the country to the top. The need of the hour is to inculcate discipline.

Dr BL TANDON, Panchkula

Education standards

It is deplorable that 1,175 government senior secondary schools in Punjab have been without principals for a decade. It seems education is not a priority of the government.

The non-seriousness of the government has resulted in lowering education standards. This has created discontentment among teachers. Besides, people have lost confidence in government schools as a result of which private schools are flourishing.

SUBHASH RAHI, Patiala

Demat degrees

Demat of degrees will certainly check the menace of fake degrees (editorial, “Demat of degrees”, Jan 14). The Centre’s decision to electronically store academic degrees will certainly prove to be beneficial. It will create a national database forever.

The government should also take steps to link this data with employment that should be given according to age, qualification and percentage of marks obtained by individual candidates.

Besides, all universities and boards must have uniform syllabus and curriculum and examination system. Only then the country will develop properly.

Dr HARINDER SINGH KANG, Yamunanagar

Peaceful protest

It is preposterous to describe a peaceful protest as rowdyism by Kashmiri Pandits rendered refugees in their own country (news report, “Kashmiri Pandits flay heckling of Yasin Malik”, Jan 13). In any democracy how else would one seek attention over an issue of continued apathy and callousness except by raising voice in a most democratic manner?

Extremist outfit JKLF activists never surrendered. It got decimated when it was abandoned by its own progenitor, Pakistan, in favour of other outfits. Those who deserve to be tried for crimes against humanity roam free, masquerading as politicians. Their political makeover has been facilitated sadly by the so-called civil society.

The much-cherished Kashmiriyat stands ruptured beyond repair. Any discourse on Kashmir must include voices of Kashmiri Pandits and other Muslims from the valley, including Gujars and Bakarwals as well as from the Jammu and Ladakh regions.

LALIT AMBARDAR, New Delhi

Debt or death trap?
The article “The debt trap” (Jan 8) by Gobind Thukral aptly highlighted the plight of Punjab farmers who accumulate heavy loans. The farmers have facilities for raising long-term (productive) loans from the banks and government agencies, but they fall prey to unscrupulous moneylenders for their personal requirements.

Their inability to pay heavy debts often compels them to commit suicide. This dismal scenario prevails in the whole country. Sincere efforts to wean them away from “the money-lending sharks” have proved futile.
Who is responsible for the gloomy situation? The moneylenders, the government and the farmers, all the three are to be blamed. The need of the hour is to take appropriate remedial measures to check the menace. Otherwise, the debt trap would turn into a “death-trap”.
Prof I J BHARTI, Karnal