Vox Populi

S K Khosla,Chandigarh

Callous attitude of school authorities needs a change

this refers to the news report,“12-year-old killed,21 hurt as DPS bus skids off” appearing in Chandigarh Newsline dated September 13. It is sad and shocking that the neither the school authorities not the school bus providers pay attention to the safety and security of the schoolchildren in transporting them from homes to schools and back. The news of the unfortunate death of the 12-year-old Manav Garg due to the sheer negligence of the driver is certainly sad and shocking. More shameful because despite so many such accidents involving school buses in the past,no lessons have been learnt by the school authorities. The drivers are recruited by the bus suppliers without testing their ability to drive school buses according to the norms. No speed governors were attached to this bus as it was driven at a very high speed as told by the children and eyewitnesses. And why no life-saving medicines or medical aid boxes/kits were found in the bus? 21 students were also injured,some of them seriously,in the accident. The callous attitude of sab theek-thaak hai and chalta hai mentality must be given up by the authorities concerned and strict supervision of all such activities concerning the safety and security of the schoolchildren must be adopted. Life is not a joke. It never returns.

R K Kapoor,CHANDIGARH

Public service demands patience and hard work

The residents have always been dissatisfied with the performance of the municipal corporation (MC) as the wards are almost always found in miserable condition and the effectiveness of MC is always under question. The nominated councillors have to be completely devoted to their duty and also dedicated to the public in order to manage things properly. It is a task that requires immense hard work; capability,accessibility and availability are of utmost importance. Performing duties like regular maintenance of roads,parks and street-lights,cleanliness and sanitation,supply of clean water,need great patience and hard work. The grievances and problems of people should be considered on priority and solved. Development of the villages and uplift of the city should be on the agenda. All wards are practically in bad shape right now,and the MC has to do a lot to bring changes.

Vineet Kapoor,PANCHKULA

Gopal Kanda needs to introspect

Speaking at the monsoon session of the Haryana Assembly (did he have any right to be there in the first place?),Mr Gopal Kanda talked about punishment to INLD leaders. He also spoke of knowing about their “non-political affairs”. That’s pretty rich,coming from him. A classic case of the pot-calling-the-kettle-black. Might I also remind him that those who live in glass houses must not cast stones. The dignity of the august house is lowered far more when tainted MLAs like him are not barred from entering.

Dr Anuradha Khanna,PANCHKULA

Nominated councillors need no voting rights

Recently it was reported that nominated councillors of Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh are demanding increase in their honorarium at par with that of their elected counterparts. The same is highly deplorable. It is true that our Constitution under Article 243R allows in municipal bodies representation of persons having special knowledge or experience in municipal administration. These experts are generally nominated (not selected) by respective state governments and in case of UT Chandigarh,by its Administrator. It is often alleged that those nominated are loyalists of ruling elite and as such they are merely accommodated for political vested interests. Noteworthy that although since 1996 when the Chandigarh MC was firstly constituted,the list of nominated councillors use to be announced before the results of Municipal General Elections but in December,2011 the same was done after the results,thus,substantiating the usual allegation regarding the same on being political considerations. Be that as it may,owing to possession of unique power of voting rights,it is always these nine nominated councillors who mostly hold the key to the election of the Mayor/Deputy Mayor/Senior Deputy Mayor,which is held every at the start of every new calendar year. Of late,a demand has being raised from various quarters so as to accord these nominated councillors only advisory role in the MC without any voting right. The matter of conferment of voting rights to them is also pending in High Court since 1998. Political allegations and counter-allegations apart,I wonder whether these members are legally entitled to vote? Pertinent to mention that the proviso appended to the Article 243R of our Constitution clearly prohibits the voting rights of such members. The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh is governed by the Punjab Municipal Corporation (Extension to Chandigarh) Act,1994,with effect from May 24,1994. Though the parent Punjab Municipal Corporation Act,1976,has no provision for voting rights of nominated councillors,the same has been incorporated into the above-mentioned 1994 extension to the Chandigarh Act for the reasons best known to our learned law makers. Also,there is no such provision in any other state statute governing municipal corporations anywhere in the country. Even the three Municipal Corporations of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi have no such provision. Permitting nominated councillors to vote is certainly against the spirit of Article 243 of the Constitution. Further,even in terms of principles of natural justice,nominated councillors can’t be equated with that of duly elected counterparts whether in terms of conferment of powers or grant of honorarium/ward development fund. The UT Administration ought not to accord its consent in this regard as the same tends to disseminate a wrong signal amongst the residents of City Beautiful.

Hemant Kumar,AMBALA CITY

Muscle-power at colleges damage future of students

There is an old saying that those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat the historical mistakes. The government and the PU authorities are falling in the same chakravyuh by allowing political activities in the PU campus and other educational institutions under the garb of self-deceiving excuse of imparting practical training about the theory of democracy to the students. In reality what the students are learning cannot be termed as the theory of democracy but practical of democracy. The colossal use of money and muscle power coupled with other immoral means of eliciting support is really shameful. The incidents of indiscipline and violence,which will leave a trail of blood and revenge attacks in future,are the damaging by-products of this needless exercise. The wastage of precious study-hours clearly show that those indulging in sham democratic processes are quite non-serious about the studies,which should have been their real purpose of joining the educational institutions. The whole show of indecency is criminal infringement of the basic human rights of those serious students who want to excel in their respective fields of academic pursuit. The saner elements can only hope that some day better sense will prevail and the authorities will learn their lessons.

A K Sharma,CHANDIGARH

Administration should rescue industry sector

There is great resentment and fear among traders,industrialists and residents of the city against the imposition of penalty of Rs 500 per square yard as misuse and building violation charges,secondly heavy increase in collector rate of property,third refusal to transfer leasehold property to free hold and many other anti industry policy and excess rate of local taxes/vat as compared to adjoining states. The city has developed quickly with cooperation from residents and the risk taken by commercials organisations/investors as well as the relaxed policy of Administration. It is now emerging as a Metropolitan City. The heavy increase in collector rate of property will badly affect the resale of property and restrict the new investor or actual user to settle in the city. The only option left to own residence/shop would be in the adjoining city of Mohali and Panchkula. The industry sector in the city is struggling for survival and is in depression as most of small manufacturing units have been closed due to closure of large-scale industries as converted to other trades and there is no clear policy for the small-scale industry. There is also requirement to introduce special policy for conversion of industrial plot to banquet/conference/marriages and other parties function in the city as most of industrial sheds are converted for multiple functions for rooms,bar restaurants and small party halls but as such there is not any specified conversion of marriage halls. The Administration should simplify estate rules and building bylaws and to allow conversion of lease-hold to free-hold in each property so that transaction may increase estate revenue.

Sukhpal Singh,CHANDIGARH

Indifferent railway authoritites

In response to my letter in March this year,that the non-stop Shatabdi train between Chandigarh and Delhi should have a 2-minute halt at Ambala Cantt,it was heartening to hear from the Railways within a few days that the same shall be introduced very shortly. But I regret to point out that after almost six months,it has still not been implemented. Almost 25-30 per cent seats go vacant on this train. Are the rail authorities waiting for a Parliament approval for this? The bonafide passengers need this facility desperately,whereas the Rail authorities seem least bothered.

Ashok Jain,AMBALA CITY