Marriage law

Harish K. Monga’s letter “Time for a common marriage law” (May 17) struck a much-desired chord of harmony and sanity in an otherwise frenzied atmosphere. His suggestion of framing a uniform law for the registration of marriages irrespective of caste, creed and religion is quite sensible.

However, Mr Monga’s assertion regarding the freedom to choose marriage partners is subject to a rider. Personal law and also the Special Marriage Act enumerate certain persons, although with varying degree and scope, with whom marriage is forbidden.

NEETI BANSAL GOYAL, Samalkha

Manpower planning

Jaswant Singh Saini’s article “Managing manpower” (May 19) motivates me to argue for manpower planning in India that could not become a reality because of certain reasons. Census 2011 is underway and it can be the last census if we work seriously on National Population Register with Unique Identity Number.

The poverty alleviation programmes are implemented without knowing how many people are poor. We pay lip service to the people who deserve to be empowered through real education and not through the so-called literacy wrongly conceived as the panacea of our ills.

Dr M M GOEL, Kurukshetra

II

The UN Human development report shows the real picture, where India and its people stand. The present government and political parties should not try to befool the people, whose living conditions are going from bad to worse. The gap between the rich and poor is increasing. No one is concerned about the increasing population of have-nots. The political parties want to keep them satisfied with doles. In reality the government of the day wants to garner votes through these doles.

NIRVAIR SINGH, Patiala

Corrupt babus

It is heartening to note that the Centre is waking up to its duty to ensure corruption-free governance for citizens by trying to tame wayward officials (editorial, “Fighting corruption: Panel to expedite action against tainted babus”, May 19). Corrupt officers have been taking advantage of the tardy process of the law which takes years to catch culprits. Matters are delayed to such an extent that the civil services regulations provide immunity to offenders as after the lapse of certain period after retirement, disciplinary proceedings cannot be initiated against offenders.

In many cases of corruption by senior officers, disciplinary proceedings were deliberately delayed for decades making the proceedings ineffective.

S C CHABBA, Patiala

II

Corruption is not unique to India. It is a symptom of poverty, inefficiency, greed and absence of a transparent and effective system. Corruption is the major hurdle in the growth of country and impacts negatively all the segments of society.

Corruption will continue till corrupt people find social acceptance. On the one hand, Indians talk of ending corruption while on the other there is huge admiration for wealthy individuals even if their wealth has been acquired by (mis)use of official position. Till we have double standards, any talk of ending corruption in India will be mere wishful thinking.

RAJIV ARORA, Ferozepur City

III

It has been rightly stated that it is time to weed out the malcontents and stem the rot in the civil services. Is it possible when the civil servants get politcial patronage? Numerous scams involving politicians have surfaced in the past but with no conviction worth its name. This is the reason why India is rated among the most corrupt nations.

AMAR NATH SHARMA, SAS Nagar

IV

Instead of taking measures to fight corruption, the civil servants have become a part of the corrupt system. Corruption starts from politicians and their vote bank garnering tactics. Civil servants cannot oppose them for fear of a backlash. Corruption will remain as long as the politicians remain corrupt.