Gurdwara management

THIS has reference to Prof Amrik Singh’s article on the management of gurdwaras published on April 27. I fully agree with the views expressed by him. One of the main reasons for the SGPC crisis today is the election system. Elections are not attracting the right type of persons to manage gurdwara affairs. Elections are considered as a stepping stone for political power. Most of the governing bodies are perpetuating their hold by unfair and unethical means.

The voting system is against the tenets and ethos of Sikhism which wants that members should be chosen by consensus in accordance with Guru Nanak’s saying: Panch parwan, panch pardhan (approved panches or leaders can be considered as head of society, an institution or a nation).

The selection of Panj-Piaras by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 and conferring on them the status of Guru indicated that both temporal and religious affairs should be looked after by a body of five selected “amritdhari” Sikhs. The idea behind this republic of five is collective leadership in the hands of people.

Instead of evolving any other system for the management of gurdwaras, the approved and sanctified institution of Panj-Piaras should be brought into practice. The Sikh Gurdwara Act of 1925 should also be abrogated.

Brig HARDIT SINGH (retd)
Chandigarh

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PhD—procedural problem

Certain institutions like Indraprastha University and Guru Jambheshwar University are keenly exploring the ways and means to expand research work (PhD), specially on technical subjects like computers.

I cannot help pointing out that in many universities the procedure of getting oneself registered for PhD is quite simple. One can get oneself registered without any difficulty. There is no complicated procedure.

Kurukshetra University also had a very simple procedure when I did my PhD in 1975. But now a candidate has to undergo a lot of tedious procedure — various seminars conducted by the department concerned in which lecturers, readers and professors participate. Since the participants in the seminar are from the same department, the possibility of their being vindictive or prejudiced cannot be ruled out.

I am of the opinion that the system should be streamlined and this cumbersome procedure done away with. This will help lady teachers against harassment. The system should be simplified so as to enable the candidates to pursue their studies peacefully.

N.C. UPADHYAYA
Karnal

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Attitude of CMC

Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, issued advertisements in various newspapers inviting candidates seeking admission to MBBS and BDS courses to buy the prospectus and application forms by sending Rs 225 for one set, Rs 640 for two sets or Rs 950 for three sets. The basic cost of the prospectus and the application form was mentioned as Rs 300 only. Obviously, the difference demanded was to send the prospectus through the registered post.

CMC, however, despatched the prospectus under postal certificate only. A candidate who had sent a demand draft for Rs 640 for two sets to apply for MBBS and BDS courses didn’t receive any prospectus for three weeks. He approached the CMC authorities. He was told that the prospectus had been sent to him under the postal certificate and he should approach the postal authorities. The postal authorities in turn expressed ignorance and said that such an important document should have been sent under registered cover. As the last date for the submission of applications drew nearer, candidates’ nervousness knew no bounds.

When CMC is charging extra to cover the expenses on the registered post, it should send the prospectus through the registered post only to avoid embarrassment to the candidates. Mere non-receipt of the prospectus should not deprive deserving candidates of admission.

Another point to be looked into is that while all other institutions — such as AIIMS and AFMC — are asking for a sum of about Rs 300 to cover the cost of the prospectus, application form and application fee, CMC is demanding Rs 600 extra as the application fee. This fee is non-refundable. Just the submission of application to an institution shouldn’t be so costly.

JAGVIR GOYAL
Bathinda

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Crime against the aged

All the items mentioned in the agenda of the Chandigarh police chief, Ms Kiran Bedi, as published in The Tribune dated 6.4.1999, particularly the measures to control crime against women, are really laudable. But one important item is missing: checking crime against senior citizens.

Most of the aged are tortured mentally and physically by their greedy sons and daughters-in-law. They devour all their life’s earnings and still cling to them like blood sucking leeches, having an evil eye on their self-acquired residences. Their evening of life is made worse than hell which they are not allowed to pass with peace in the loving care of their neighbours and friends.

It should be made mandatory for such sons to vacate their parents’ houses and live separately.

AVTAR SINGH
Chandigarh

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Waiving of surcharge

The Tribune of April 23 had a report which said that “Surcharge waived on outstanding bills”. This concession has been granted to the domestic consumers living in urban and rural areas. Similarly the concession has been passed on to the agricultural sector also.

I feel this action of the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam is not good. By taking such a decision a customer who has been paying his bill regularly has rather been punished instead of punishment meted out to the defaulters. It is generally seen that a good student, player, soldier and politician is awarded and praised for his services by the public through the media or otherwise.

But here a customer who is making the payment of his bill to the HVPN regularly and even before the due date, has been ignored. For the payment he has to wait in the queue for hours together for his turn. If the government is in a position to bear the burden of defaulter consumers it should come forward to appreciate the habit of paying one’s bill in time.

Now I come to the agricultural sector. Power is made available to the agriculturist at a very cheap rate. It is strange that even then he does not clear his bill. In the case of such defaulters, the question of waiving the surcharge does not arise.

Waiving of surcharge and any other payment due amounts to putting an extra burden on the common man’s shoulders.

P.N. GUPTA
Panchkula