Vox Populi: ATMs continue to function without guards in Tricity area

S K Gupta,PANCHKULA

Not only the accused,punish the ‘hostile victims’ too

This refers to the news report ‘Four acquitted in two separate rape cases’ (Chandigarh Newsline,December 4). It is really sad and strange to read every other day about rapists being acquitted on the grounds that either the victim or the witnesses “turn hostile”. Why do the victims turn hostile after they file complaints against some persons of raping them? And why does the court agree with the victim’s U-turn and acquit those accused of sexually assaulting the “victim”? Isn’t it a mockery of the judicial system? It is an open secret that either the accused threatens the victim of serious consequences or offers some financial help silence her. Then why is no action taken against the “victim” for wasting the court’s time if she has not been sexually assaulted by the “accused”? The court must take action against such “rape victims” who later on “turn hostile”,by sending them behind bars for at least six months. Even the “accused” in such cases must be put in jail for the same period. Only then will there be no “U-turns” in rape cases in future. And there are chances that sexual assaults on women will decline with such a practice. The Supreme Court must intervene in this matter.

R K Kapoor,CHNDIGARH

Encroachments in market areas need to be checked

The encroachments in city markets such as Sadar Bazar in Sector 19,Shastri Market in Sector 22 and Patel Market in Sector 15,have made it difficult to even pass through them. In the last more than fifteen years,neither the administration nor the municipal corporation have been successful in removing these encroachments. In certain cases,even the verandas and the front walls of the markets are covered with goods,thus making it difficult for the residents to enter into the markets. Though the penalty for encroachment has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 10,000,it is still not the solution to the problem,as the solution lies somewhere else. In short,if we want that City Beautiful must be an encroachment-free area,Chandigarh Administration should keep an eagle eye as and when the encroachment is started in any part of the market so as to avoid settling the problem at a later date. The Administration should take steps like regular patrolling to check encroachment. The enforcement staff should also be provided adequate security. Besides,the enforcement staff who have established links with the market people need to be changed on regular intervals.

S K Khosla,CHANDIGARH

Govt should be more sensitive towards needs of Army men

Armed Forces Flag Day on December 6 needs to be observed every year to remember the contribution made by the Armed Forces martyrs and the serving soldiers in ensuring India’s freedom and security. It is always accompanied by the token drive to collect funds for the welfare of martyr soldiers’ families and physically disabled soldiers. Every year it is reiterated that the state and central governments are grateful to the Armed Forces and duty-bound to provide better services to the serving,retired soldiers and the families of the martyrs. Are these affirmations just fillers for the occasion and not seriously meant for implementation? It is not surprising that no welfare measures are ever announced by the central and state governments on the occasion. By now it could have been a long list of welfare measures under implementation. No wonder that the youth of our county is not inclined to join the thankless profession.

Col K D Pathak (Retd),CHANDIGARH

Media should fight for long overdue justice for Ruchika

Thanks to an alert media and outcry of concerned citizens,the young journalist,victim of Tarun Tejpal’s insensitive act,may finally get justice. Justice to the victim on the heels of justice to Arushi and Hemraj,Nirbhaya,Jessica Lal,Kanchan Mattoo,Nitish Katara among others,is most welcome and heartening. The judicial system seems to be prevailing in the country. But what about long overdue justice for Ruchika? Monstrous Rathore,his helpers in the police,society and Haryana government,Sacred Heart School,who tormented Ruchika and her family to such an extent that the girl had to end her life,are yet to be punished. When justice is prevailing in all cases,why are Ruchika and her family being denied the same? Why is media silent and why is there no public outcry on this issue? Why are human rights groups and crusaders for girl-child maintaining a criminal silence? When will Ruchika get justice?

A K Sharma,CHANDIGARH

Civilian honours cannot be used as prefixes in names

On December 6,the death anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar,almost all leading dailies of the region carried advertisement given by the Haryana Government professing the commitment of the state government to fulfil the ideals of the late leader. But to my utter surprise,in the said advertisement,the word “Bharat Ratna” was prefixed before the name of Baba Saheb. No doubt he is one of the recipients of the country’s highest civilian honour,which was conferred on him posthumously in 1990,but everyone must keep in mind that a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has ruled in Balaji Raghavan Vs Union of India (Dec 1995) that all four national awards viz Bharat Ratna,Padma Vibhushan,Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri,as awarded by the Government of India,do not amount to “Title” within the meaning of Article 18(1) of our Constitution. Hence,they can’t be used as prefixes or suffixes before the name of a recipient. It was even laid down by the apex court that in the event of doing so,the recipient may be forfeited of that honour. It is indeed shocking that such a grave anomaly has been committed by none other than state authorities. Such a carelessness on their part is highly deplorable. Those who are the helm of affairs of the state’s Information and Public Relations Department,through whom such advertisements are issued to newspapers,must ensure that such thing does not happen in future

Hemant Kumar,AMBALA CITY

Babu’s need to join hands for development

Resolving problems at the Administration level has been a cat-and-mouse game for citizens with officials. In the last five years,I have seen bickering within the bureaucracy and the so-called scams which made headlines for quite some time. When we look at the development by the Administration on its own,we can count it on our fingertips. City MP Pawan Kumar Bansal has made efforts to clear several developmental works through MPLADs,like new roads,parks,upgrade of infrastructure in schools and colleges,besides also bring quality healthcare to city hospitals. It is time for babus to wake up and do something as joint effort always pays and goes a long way in the overall development.

Sachin Sharma,CHANDIGARH

Authorities need to check loud activities near residential areas

The land next to Sub-City Shopping Centre in Sector 34-B in Chandigarh is most of time occupied by exhibitions,spiritual gatherings and music shows. They get permission from the authority who have no consideration for parking woes and drainage facilities. The said area is presently given on lease to different parties for temporary use,violating noise pollution and other norms and cause traffic hazard/jam in the whole area of Sectors 33 and 34. This creates a lot of disturbance for the residents living in the area just next to this site. The municipal corporation should consider the interests of residents before leasing out the site for such commercial activities.

Sukhpal Singh,CHANDIGARH

Administration should work to promote tourism better

The Tourism Department of Chandigarh Administration and the Chandigarh Industrial Tourism Development Corporation have neither set up a camping site for tourists nor a hotel for low-budget tourists,which is their prime need. There are not even brochures in foreign language like German,French,Italian,Spanish,or even in our national language Hindi or any regional language. I would appeal to the Administration in public interest and for promotion of tourism,for setting up a big hotel for low-budget tourists,a brochures different languages.

Narinder Singh,CHANDIGARH

Power needs to be put in responsible hands

From the controversial property tax to ill maintenance of the city,almost all city problems can be attributed to a no-accountable rolling-stone like bureaucracy that runs Chandigarh Administration. And the only way out seems to be an immediate shifting of the administrative rein of the city to the duly elected MP of the region,who cannot betray his voters.

Balvinder,CHANDIGARH

In their craze to go abroad,people leave behind old parents to suffer

The life of old people is becoming more lonely and unsafe. They are either being attacked by their domestic servants,or being deserted by their own children. Nearly 20 per cent of our population is left in a miserable condition since most of the children leave their parents alone in old age and go abroad for better opportunities. In reality,a majority of these people who go abroad seeking better lives,themselves lead miserable lives there. The plight of the NRI women is worse,who have to do menial jobs there,and many are dumped by their husbands too. There is no dearth of opportunities for the talented in India. We have the best of education,health infrastructure,a booming IT sector,and other opportunities for self employment. It is only a question of working hard and being less greedy. Why not lead a better life in our own country,in the midst of our elders,relatives,and friends? We are our own masters here,with all our fundamental rights. So,lets be proud of our own country,and stay close to our roots. Lets be not abandon our parents when they need us most.

Colonel (retd) R D Singh,AMBALA CANTT