Political appointment

Apropos of ‘State varsities to get Pro- VCs now’; it is a political decision to adjust incompetent, superannuated cronies. The post would create an unnecessary burden on the exchequer without making any improvement in the quality of higher education and university administration. Unfortunately, the illusions of power that go with administrative positions have spread to the universities. There are few learned men in our seats of learning who do not yearn for any administrative status. And outside the universities, the hierarchical pattern, with the bureaucratic administrator at the apex, prevails in all areas of education. The VCs should be proud men who depart while they are still being pressed to stay. A university grows through new ideas and through interaction among academics, unhampered by thoughts of hierarchy. No true academic community can be other than democratic. Even the coveted post of VC has lost its sanctity and dignity due to undue political and bureaucratic interference.

Anil Bhatia, Hisar

Ban pre-poll promises

Ahead of the elections in half a dozen states across the country, the Prime Minister, chief ministers, ministers and other MPs/MLAs have started taking the public for a ride by making promises of free electricity, loan waiver, distribution of laptops, etc. This practice is wrong. Some time back, the Punjab CM had also announced that those living within lal dora would be allotted land in their names. It is not even legal. There are several cases for this in various courts. How can they provide facilities they promise without providing budget for the same? The Election Commission and the SC should take notice of such announcements and ban them. Further, the PM should not be allowed for election rallies since he is meant for the country, not for one party alone.

SC Dhall, Zirakpur

Performance index

The Performance Grading Index measuring the performance of states in school education places Punjab in Grade 1 with 929 points followed by Chandigarh with a score of 912. Haryana is behind with 862. Governance is a major area in evaluation. NEP-2020 has spoken enough about it. Haryana should lead with a necessary shift in the administrative paradigm. The head of a school has a significant role in governance. The leadership cell in SCERT should be strengthened to initiate induction courses and in-service training courses of longer duration in collaboration with NIEPA. Leadership in governance and management should be upgraded in pre-service teacher education courses. Other parameters should also be implemented.

S KUMAR, PANCHKULA

Power crisis

The so-called power crisis seems to be due to lack of coordination between the Centre and state power utilities, as the Central government has been repeatedly denying any coal or power shortage. The Centre should take command and handle it, as done in the past for oxygen cylinders and vaccination during the pandemic, so that consumers do not suffer. After all, we have an integrated national power grid.

NK SINGHAL, NOIDA

Defensive approach

Our security forces have been facing a challenging task for long, with Pakistan relentlessly promoting cross-border terrorism as state policy. The Pakistan army is fighting a proxy war which is low cost, but more effective. We are still sticking to a defensive approach for countering threats. We fail to take a proactive and preemptive approach towards state-sponsored threat that is actually an open war. Our security forces must be provided with state-of-the-art weapons, drones and surveillance equipment to check infiltration across the LoC. There should be zero tolerance towards terrorism.

Deepak Mehra, by mail

Law not same for all

The Lakhimpur Kheri incident has exposed the mindset of those in power. Previously, we witnessed the Hathras incident, where a rape victim was murdered and the body cremated without the consent of her family. And now, peaceful protesters are trodden upon by a powerful person. Facts are clear but the justice process starts days later. Does this happen with the common man? Salman Khan allegedly ran over people under his car, but he couldn’t be proved guilty. Law should be the same for all, whether he is a king or a courtier.

SAROJ BANYAL, HAMIRPUR

Tracking pvt buses

Apropos of ‘Tracking system to cover private buses: Warring’, he deserves kudos for introducing the tracking system in state-owned buses and extending it to private buses in Punjab. I had to travel in an AC coach from Faridkot to Ludhiana. After Moga, the AC was switched off and the driver started plying the vehicle like a passenger bus. AC coaches of even PR/PUNBUS stop for a longer period and then drivers indulge in rash driving.

Upendra Sharma, by mail

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com