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

Corrupt babus deserve no protection

The editorial, “Tainted babus: Centre must weed out the corrupt” (Feb 9) has rightly advocated the need to abrogate the constitutional protection granted to civil servants under Article 311 of the Constitution. The protection granted was the need of the hour six decades back. Should it continue in the changed scenario when globalisation has made the entire world a local village?

The protection and security of service makes civil servants lazy, docile and easy going. The enthusiasm to compete gets drained out. The amassing of huge wealth by the IAS couple in Madhya Pradesh besides others is an eye-opener. The revelation of Central Vigilance Commissioner adds fuel to the fire. Civil servants have made a mockery of the law by misusing the protection granted to them.

Civil services were devised to serve the public but in reality they have made public their servants. The requirement of sanction to prosecute a public servant should be abrogated so that people’s confidence in the majesty of law is not shaken.

Politicians are equally to be blamed for the falling standards of public services. Corruption is eating the system like a white ant. In the list of corrupt countries released lately, India is dubbed one of the most corrupt nations. Foreign investors feel shy in setting up projects in India because of red tape, bureaucratisation and undue delay in the execution of projects.

AJAY K. JINDAL, Advocate,Ludhiana

II

The editorial’s suggestions for taking a tough stand by the government and revisiting Article 311 of the Constitution are welcome but are not adequate in eradicating the cancer of corruption. The increasing unrest in society is indicative of the negative forces already rising in the shape of the Naxalite movement, kidnappings, abductions. These seem to be the answer of society to the menacing problem of corruption which gives rise to misgovernance by politicians and bureaucrats who are trying to cover up the blunders of each other.

Corruption is a very serious threat to our very existence as law-abiding, honest and patriotic citizens. There is an immediate need to address this problem. Nobody from outside will come to help us. Every citizen individually and collectively has to do his/her bit without waiting for someone else.

Col INDER CHOWDHARY (retd),Ambala Cantonment

AVUTHU SRIHARI,Hyderabad

Age and wisdom

I read and re-read Justice J.L. Gupta’s middle, “Retired but not tired”(Feb 5). He has given ample expression of his sense of humour.My friend, an NRI and professor by profession, was so much swayed by the piece that he has faxed it to his friends in the United States.

No doubt, age does not make a person wise. As they say, “those who deeply love never grow old; they die of years but they die young.” Maybe, taking a cue from this lovely advice, some men of “grey eminence”, on the pretext of evening walk, try to glance at pretty faces in the local market.

D.V. JOSHI, Bartana (Zirakpur)

Case for national integration V Eshwar Anand’s article, “Bridging the divide: Statehood no panacea for Telangana” (Jan 11), makes a forceful plea for national integration and is against the creation of moreand more states. What happened after half a dozen states were created in the northeast? They lack in adequate resources individually and have remained underdeveloped. Ethnic rivalries have grown in the region. The case of Uttar Pradesh is different. Being unwieldy, the state has not been governed properly. This old united province (Uttar Pradesh) of Agra and Avadh needed to be divided in the eastern and western parts long back. However, the selfish interest of political parties to grab a large number of Members of Parliament in one block has stood in the way. The ever-growing demand for small states is a challenge. Only statesmen and bold leaders will be able to handle the issue properly. Dr P.S. CHANANA, Patiala