M A I L B A G

CIC directive to UPSC welcome

Notwithstanding the Delhi High Court’s stay order on Monday, the Central Information Commission’s directive to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to disclose the marks of the candidates scored in General Studies and optional subjects in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination is welcome. It is a positive step towards making the selection process for the premier services more transparent and candidate-friendly (Editorial, “Seeing through marks: Making Civil Services exams transparent”, Nov 15).

A large number of candidates attempt the Civil Services exam conducted by the UPSC. Hitherto, it was not possible for the unsuccessful candidates to know where they had faltered. The release of marks will enable candidates to assess their preparation better for one of the most difficult examinations in the world.

There is no doubt about the sanctity of the UPSC as an institution since year after year only the best are chosen for the elite services. With the disclosure of marks and greater transparency, the institution will now attain loftier heights.

ASHOK JAIN, Member, Haryana Staff Selection Commission, Ambala Cantonment

II

The CIC’s directive to the UPSC is a welcome step. What is more, it has also ordered disclosure of scaling system in larger public interest. All recruitment agencies and commissions should follow suit with respect to their own examinations.

The UPSC has appealed against the order and obtained a stay from the Delhi High Court. Why? The functioning of a recruitment agency should be above board. Any adverse ruling by a court against a government agency/department should be accepted gracefully and implemented in toto.

Even in cases when one state is pitted against another, like the inter-state river water disputes, the court orders must be implemented. Why should higher courts be burdened when matters can be decided on merit or adjudicated by the Union Government’s departments concerned?

LALIT BHARDWAJ, Panchkula

III

The CIC’s directive should apply to HAS (Preliminary) examination also. Every year, over 25, 000 candidates take this examination and only a few are qualified for the main examination. Disclosure of marks will help candidates assess their shortcomings in General Studies and optional subjects as also help them perform better in the next examination. The government should act accordingly and direct all state public service commissions to disclose marks to the candidates.

SUBER SINGH PARIHAR, Yol (Kangra)

Small is beautiful

Barnala became a district on November 19. It is 40 km away from Sangrur. Faridkot, at a distance of less than 40 km from Ferozepur, was given the district tag more than a decade ago.

It should now be the turn of Fazilka, a sub-division of Ferozepur district, for the district tag. The total distance of Ferozepur-Abohar is 132 km. Fazilka, being the central area between Ferozepur and Abohar, should be made a district. Surprisingly, even after 59 years of Independence, the people of Fazilka have been facing the problem of excess fluoride content in water. This is leading to bone deterioration and spoiled teeth. On the whole, Fazilka is a town of neglect. District status will help.

Prof B.M. RAWLLEY, Nabha

II

In small districts, people have easy access to the administration and infrastructure. They get more benefits in the development projects. (Editorial, “Smaller districts” Oct 20).

Haryana got five districts of East Punjab and one from Pepsu in its heritage which were considered backward areas. Successive Chief Ministers of Haryana carved 20 districts out of six. Now Haryana is ahead of Punjab in per capita income and development.

Small unit of administration is one of the reasons for the rapid development of Haryana. In Punjab, some of the districts like Gurdaspur and Ludhiana are still very large.

R.S. BAIDWAN, Mohali

 

Helping banks to work better Human resource management is crucial for running any organisation like banks. The changing business environment forces banks to enter into hitherto unknown areas of banking. There is need for good analyses of three factors — organisation, operation and manpower. Usually, most banks launching new schemes do not have proper delivery channels. For instance, when a bank decides on a new scheme, it goes to the market with fanfare. When a prospective customer walks into the bank and seeks details of the scheme, the Branch Manager, being ignorant of the scheme without any briefing from his superiors, replies: “Yes, I also read about it in The Tribune this morning”. Clearly, this calls for proper coordination between the zonal office and branches so that all information and skills are made available at the branches. Overall, good HRD will help banks work better. RAJESH SARAF,Senior Bank Officer, Ferozepur City