PTU: fate of students uncertain

THE fate of the engineering students in the colleges affiliated to Punjab Technical University (PTU) remains uncertain due to its casual attitude. Court cases and strikes by students and representation to the Chief Minister are common every year. Consider the following:

(a) During 1997 PTU adopted the CPAM method for the appraisal of performance of the students, which was rejected by the Thapar Institute of Engineers and Technology and other institutes of repute. As the representation by students/parents yielded no result, the students had to go on strike resulting in a slight dilution in the system.

(b) During 1998 the casual handling of the Common Entrance Test conducted by PTU caused various anomalies in the results. This led to court cases, the cancellation of counselling and the results, establishment of Lok Adalats and recounselling — a painful experience for students and parents for no fault of theirs.

(c) PTU did not learn any lesson from the strikes of 1997 and its consequences, and imposed the CPAM system again on the students of the 1998 batch, which again resulted in a strike.

(d) The students who appeared in LEET-1998 also suffered due to the casual and callous attitude of PTU leading to court cases.

(e) PTU found out a novel way to torture the students of the 1999 batch by adopting a cumbersome and faulty system of the allotment of courses through decentralised counselling. This is not enough. Students have to purchase a prospectus worth Rs 400 at each institution. As we all are aware, the admission is taken by students by maintaining a balance between the trade and the college. A candidate prefers to compromise with the trade if he gets admission to a better college. This year they snatched away this option from the candidates. This made the parents of the candidates to approach the Chief Minister (The Tribune, dated 3.8.1999) and then to the court, causing deferment of counselling for vacant seats.

(f) Though due to the strike by the students of the 1998 batch the CPAM system was promised to be withdrawn, resulting in the calling off of the strike, while declaring the results of the first semester PTU again applied the CPAM system. There is resentment among the students which may lead to a strike. I may add that the result cards for the first semester are still awaited by the students.

It is suggested that the engineering colleges affiliated to PTU should be reaffiliated to the universities as was the case prior to the establishment of PTU, or with Panjab University, Chandigarh, so that faith of the students in the system is not further shattered.

ARUN GOYAL
Patiala

Traffic challan disposal system

I am deeply anguished over the harassment people have to go through for getting their traffic challans paid. I want to highlight the misery of the people who are challaned for violating traffic rules.

The disposal of these petty cases is entrusted to the already over-burdened lower courts of Patiala. The dingy record rooms where one has to get registered for a hearing really depress a first-timer. Often the over-worked staff are unable to locate the documents of all those swarming over them, and ask them to come on a later date.

The common man who has taken leave from his office or college for paying the challan returns once again disappointed. The person begins to wonder whether he is a criminal and regrets the moment when he didn’t had a helmet on his head. Some frustrated by the red-tapism fall into the hands of countless touts and agents who promise to get their documents out for an exorbitant price.

The challan disposal system should be streamlined on the lines of Chandigarh where there is a separate cell entrusted with this work. The small step will go a long way in helping the common man and relieving the courts of the misery of over-work.

I hope the necessary action will be taken by the powers that be to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Patiala.

ROHIT MARKANDE
Patiala

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Police: the image problem

"Policing the police" (The Tribune, Sept 25) by Mr H.L. Kapoor compels notice for its candid tone and tenor.

No doubt, the country's police has, over the years, become increasingly notorious for all sorts of "sins" under the sun, as the article points out. As a sad but inevitable consequence, the vital force, by and large, enjoys a woefully poor public image/reputation.

It is at the police station level that the public at large comes into direct contact with the police. In fact, the Station House Officer (SHO) is the kingpin of the police set-up. As such, the functionary can make or mar the image of the force.

To begin with, therefore, let the authorities exercise a little extra care while selecting persons to man the key post. Periodic refresher/re-orientation courses for this particular functionary would also be quite in order. Above all, effective supervision — policing the police — by the district police chief seems imperative to improve matters. The district police chief must, of course, be a person of high moral/intellectual calibre as also unimpeachable integrity to be able to deliver the goods.

Mr Kapoor correctly says that postings and transfers of police personnel should be made on merit and not for political convenience. Whether it would be heeded is, however, a moot point.

TARA CHAND
Ambota (Una)