M A I L B A G

Do not elect a pliable President

This refers to your editorial “Not done, Mr President” (June 18). I am an old reader of The Tribune and its ardent admirer, but during my long association I have not seen the esteemed paper using such harsh language for anybody, leave alone the President of India. You had made your point by stating that those holding constitutional offices ought to be aware of the “line of control”. But using words like “gone overboard”, “exposed himself to the charge of partisanship”, “shot from the lip” and so on could have been avoided. One wonders who has gone overboard!

Even the Supreme Court, while holding the Centre’s rule in Bihar null and void, had avoided passing any strictures against the President, though it did so against the holders of other high offices. Now when the election process is on, at least we, the ordinary citizens, could surely advise our representatives, the MPs and legislators, not to elect to the high office of President a person who gives the impression of being easily pliable.

Wg-Cdr C.L. SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

II

It is quite strange to read your objection to the President’s and the Army Chief’s comments on the selection of Mrs Pratibha Patil as the UPA-Left candidate for the office of President. Not just the President and the Army chief, but every right-thinking citizen appreciates the UPA decision. We welcome the first woman candidate for the highest office in the country.

The President and the men in uniform all know the decorum of service very much. How does it become partisan when the President calls the choice fantastic? The tone and tenor of the editorial is harsh and unpalatable.

Capt AMAR JEET KUMAR (retd), S.A.S. Nagar

III

The editorial "Candidate Kalam" (June 22) aptly highlights the mess created by politicians in the Presidential election. The way the election to the highest post of the nation has been degraded is not only unfortunate but also condemnable. The irony of the situation is that the people, at least the educated ones, by and large want Dr Kalam to continue as President, but politicians, who claim to represent the people, do not favour Dr Kalam because of narrow political considerations. Let the educated people, at least graduates, directly elect the President.

A.K.SHARMA, Chandigarh.

Make interviews transparent A large number of teachers and researchers in our universities have a low academic profile. A number of Vice-Chancellors are sycophants of politicians and have been accused of corruption and malpractices. Selections of teachers are a source of corruption and favouritism. Can we overcome this problem? Yes. The selectors and the selected should evaluate each other in an open space. One month before holding an interview, the universities must display the names of applicants with their detailed academic profile as per the advertisement. The selection committee must record reasons for the selection or rejection of the interviewed candidates. Reports of the selection committee should be displayed on the notice board within 15 days. Every interview should be video-taped. It will show not only the calibre of the interviewed candidates, but also of the selection committee members. These tapes should be deposited with three different authorities to prevent their tampering. Without complete transparency in the selection of teachers and researches, India cannot aspire for high quality teaching and research. Secrecy is the mother of corruption. Dr S.P. Gupta, KURUKSHETRA UNIVERSITY, KURUKSHETRA

Farmers’ suicides

The Punjab Government’s attempt to divert public attention from the issue of indebtedness and farmer suicides by directing the deputy commissioners to remain accessible to distressed farmers seems successful as a remedy to the problem if one goes through the article “Suicides by farmers” by M. Rajivlochan.

It is a deliberate cover-up to offer an administrative/governance solution to a complex and multi-dimensional crisis. I appreciate the efforts of Professor Gill in exposing the bureaucracy, sensitising politicians and putting things in the right perspective through his article on the same subject (June 13). Professor Gill rightly advocates that the remedy lies in immediate debt relief and efforts to raise farmers' incomes on a sustainable basis.

KESAR SINGH BHANGOO, Punjabi University Regional Centre, Bathinda.

Parental coercion

Apropos of your editorial "Parental coercion" (June 22), that a Tamil Nadu doctor couple allowed their teenaged son to perform a caesarean operation is not just a case of violation of the professional responsibility and ethics, promoting callousness in a highly skilled and technical profession and encouraging quackery, but it is an appalling expression of parental aspirations.

VED GULIANI, Hisar.

Train services

The Railways should start a DMU (diesel multiple unit) train service from Ludhiana to Chandigarh with stoppages at Sahnewal, Khanna , Sirhind, Bassi Pathanan, Morinda, Kharar and Mohali. If the departure of this train, ex-Ludhiana, is scheduled around 6.30 a.m., it will cover this distance maximum in two and a half hours and reach Chandigarh around 9 a.m. A morning service ex- Chandigarh to Ludhiana could also be started around 7 a.m.

A similar reverse evening service around 5 pm could be started from both directions. The rail travel between Ludhiana and Chandigarh will become economical as the rail fare will be around Rs. 20 viz-a-viz bus fare of Rs. 50 in one direction.

Er. M.P.Singh, Chandigarh