M A I L B A G

RBI fiat on cash delivery not in order

The Reserve Bank of India has now permitted commercial banks to either deliver cash/instruments at or accept cash from their clients’ residence. The move is fraught with dangerous consequences, since the RBI has fixed the onus of responsibility entirely on the bank employees or agents appointed by the banks. Such customer-friendly measures can be introduced provided the customers are educated, have a general sense of social responsibility, have proper identifiable residential premises, are income-tax payers or at least have PAN numbers, etc.

Again, it is easier said than done when the RBI says that banks must educate their employees/agents to detect fraudulent instruments. In fact, in my opinion, banks would have to train their employees or agents in handling revolvers too in case of sudden attack by gangsters. It’s so easy for bureaucrats and ministers to issue instructions to those at grass-root levels.

And if anything goes wrong, they will refuse to take responsibility for trying to implement senseless and impractical policies. Instead, they will suspend the helpless employees who were only trying to perform their duty as best as they could. In fine, when the customers are presently going to the banks for withdrawals or deposits without any qualms, then what has tickled the RBI to issue these fresh, meaningless instructions to banks?

HARISCHANDRA PARASURAM, Juhu, Mumbai

Tackle the evil

In his article, “Killing unborn daughter” (May 25), Rajesh Kochhar has rightly stressed that the government should regulate technology. The evil of female foeticide was given a boost by money hungry, greedy and selfish men and women including doctors and quacks misusing the technology. People’s mindset must change. On its part, the government will have to curb the menace with a firm hand.

If a doctor does not do an ultrasound, how can one know the sex of the baby? Despite ban on sex determination, tests go on. Owing to corrupt and dishonest doctors and officials, the PNDT Act remains on paper.

The government should act tough with greater vigour to enforce the PNDT Act along with strict measures to curb corruption, fix accountability and punish the guilty.

Dr VITULL K. GUPTA, Bathinda

PCS exam

The preliminary exam for Punjab Civil Service (Judicial) was held on May 27. The results, declared on May 29, mentioned about the marks of candidates and lists of each category in order of merit.

However, neither in the advertisement nor after the declaration of results, the authorities have informed the criteria for qualifying for the main examination. This has put the candidates in a fix. When the Punjab Public Service Commission at Patiala is called up, the staff give no information.

Generally, in Delhi or Himachal Judicial Services, 10 to 15 times the number of posts in each category are selected for the main exam. It is not at all justified for the PPSC to withhold the qualifying criteria for such a long time even after declaring results.

HARSIMRAT DHILLON, Chandigarh 

Death for soldier

The Army Court recently sentenced Satyam Kumar to death for killing his superior, a Lieutenant Colonel, in 2006. His execution is now awaiting the Defence Ministry’s green signal.

Before giving their opinion regarding this second death sentence case (within three months), the Defence Ministry needs to do some soul searching. Why nearly 100 soldiers committed suicide each year since 2001? What are the reasons for the increasing number of fragging cases?

Apparently, stress is the main cause of fragging. The behaviour of the superior or leave-related problem is another cause. In view of the seriousness of the problem, the Defence Ministry should try to find out the reasons for so many soldiers committing suicide?

If the killer is executed for fragging, why should those officers responsible for soldiers’ death not be given exemplary punishment? There should not be any discrimination in justice.

BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE, Faridabad

Quota politics

In Punjab, Amritsar and Patiala Government Medical Colleges produced the country’s top doctors. However, with continued reservations at all levels, including PGs and promotions, most departments are headed by doctors from the reserved categories who don’t deserve these posts.

As doctors recruited through quotas are incapable and inefficient to handle the job, all meritorious doctors are leaving these colleges. The quota HODs don’t do anything and can’t tolerate others also.

If there is unrest in various states, it is mainly because of the dirty politics of reservation. The politicians, who are only interested in protecting their vote banks, have divided the nation on caste lines and taken our country thousand years back. Let’s stop these petty politicians from spoiling our country further.

Dr P. KAUR, Ludhiana