M A I L B A G

Nomination to IAS must stop

In the context of the presumed notion of high merit and calibre of IAS officers, Shahira Naim’s report, “Marauding merit: 42 climb the IAS ladder through right links” is really shocking. What is more shocking is the existence of such an obnoxious provision in the rules to fill 2 per cent of IAS vacancies with the officers of state civil services, i.e. through nomination as it is called in the bureaucratic parlance.

It was in 1996 that the Supreme Court had struck down a provision of the police rules that allowed the Haryana government to effect recruitment of the descendents of Haryana police officials through nomination.

It is high time the Centre and the Union Public Service Commission scrapped such feudal practices for recruitment/promotion to the IAS as it can only breed favourtism in favour of the kith and kin of the political elite at the cost of meritorious candidates.

Nomination of state civil service officers to the IAS also goes against the principle of equality of opportunity in government employment as enshrined in the Constitution.

ASHWANI KUMAR, Nurpur Bedi (Ropar)

HIMUDA plots

In his letter, Vipin Parashar laments the lack of infrastructure in the HIMUDA housing colony in Mandhala (Baddi). I have been visiting the site frequently and the facts are otherwise.

HIMUDA has committed to complete all external development work within three years. Even in the case of HUDA plots, sectors are developed gradually with the money received from the plot holders. This is the normal practice everywhere.

The HIMUDA housing colony, strategically located near Nanakpur on HP-Haryana border, will be adjacent to New Panchkula being developed by HUDA. Given the high industrial potential of the Baddi-Barotiwala belt and its proximity to Chandigarh via the proposed link road, this urban complex is a good value for money.

In any planned development, houses cannot be located amongst polluting factories. The housing colony is correctly located away from the industrial units; it conforms to the new master plan being developed by the Baddi-Barotiwala Development Authority.

ANIL SETHI, Chandigarh

Make it right

When armed forces and police organisations are deeply involved in counter-insurgency operations and aiding the civil authorities today, they are often addressed wrongly. Even non-Army units, particularly the police, are referred as ‘paramilitary force’ which is incorrect.

The paramilitary forces are those which are not part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) but are staffed by the armed forces personnel, e.g. Assam Rifles, Rashtriya Rifles, NSG, Coast Guard and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) whereas the BSF, CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB are Central Police Organisations (CPOs).

Further, the Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB) are units drawn from police units of various states and financed by the Central government. They act as reserve to CPOs and their deployment is at the discretion of the Union Home Ministry. It is incumbent on our part to maintain the sanctity of each organisation by using the correct designation.

Col RAMESH DAVESAR (retd), Chandigarh

Distance education

The articles “Time to review distance education” and “Distance education needs revamp” (May 15 and 22) and the letter (May 15) and news-item “MBA students face one year loss” (May 23) underscore the need for pro-active, corrective and reformatory measures to help students of the region. Students should try to attain the desired qualifications from the regional universities instead of going to far off universities to qualify at high cost and discomfort.

I am a student of MBA (Distance Education) of Ch Devi Lal University and have undergone PCP classes (nine hours daily including Sunday for 10 days). The lectures were imparted with diligence and the study material is comprehensive and wholesome.

JAGJIT SINGH, Chandigarh