The Hindu : New Delhi News : Reader's Mail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 30, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Reader's Mail

For DU's sake

Although I work in Gurgaon, I prefer staying on the North Campus of my alma mater, Delhi University, because of the healthy and green environment here. The University has a programme on Environment Science as also on management of degraded eco-systems. A great testimony to the superb leadership in the University indeed. There is no denying, therefore, that the precepts of sustainable environment development are clearly understood by the faculty before being reproduced and vended through various courses. The relevance of these crucial precepts is to be observed in everyday applications in campus life. Wide gaps between the two are too glaring to be missed and must get unflinching attention of the new leader.

Cutting down of trees, burning of dry leaves, concretisation of water harvesting sideways and pedestrian walkways and unabashed use of scarce potable water resources are only a few of such undesirable practices. Rain harvesting structures in the new constructions are conspicuous by their absence. It appears that among the various University entities the civil engineering wing has chosen to flout the precepts the most. A glaring case in point is `Plaza Botanica' on the campus. Surely commercial interests cannot be the yardstick for determining genuine environment-friendly practices.

Should Delhi University be encouraged to perpetuate such a crime on its own campus? Certainly not. Concerted public interest action is called for after the delightfully pleasing and restorative work in the genre of the National Heritage status acquired by the North Campus. The Delhi University community can surely sustain and maintain the environmental balance. We do not have to ask "Who will bell the cat?" but apply the cerebral to convert the precept of "know-how" into practice : "show-how".

Prof. J. George,

C-4, 29/31 Probyn Road University Flats,

University of Delhi,

Chhatra Marg,

Delhi-110 007.

* * *

Tragedy foretold

This past Wednesday, May 25, the untimely demise of Union Sports Minister Sunil Dutt shocked not only the UPA Government but the whole country. This unfortunate event was predicted in "Baba Ji" astrological magazine's latest edition released on April 30: "India-Daily Guide-The time from 0800 hours on May 24 to June 4, 2005, is highly inauspicious for the Government. The Government or some important authorities of the Government are likely to receive a major setback. On the 25th May, deaths are feared...."

Lachhman Das Madan,

Editor, "Baba Ji" magazine,

J-7/28, Rajouri Garden,

New Delhi - 110 027.

* * *

Prevent it

The escalating rate of commission of the heinous crime of rape in India requires serious and persistent attention by the police authorities. The attitude should not be merely to grab the accused but to prevent the crime. This seems to be lacking in the latest Delhi University girl rape case at Dhaula Kuan. Despite timely information about the crime to the police, they failed to prevent it. The brazen confidence of the accused which let them move scot-free for three days is a slap on the face of the "rule of law".

In situations involving assault on the modesty of a woman, barricades should be put up on the roads speedily. Considering the alarming rate at which rape is committed, legislatures should consider laying down a stern code of punishment which should depart from the philanthropic attitude of reformation and be one of retribution and repression.

Also, the ambit of the meaning of "rape" should be expanded to include "attempt to rape" or a separate provision should be made penalising such attempts as well. Till then, the Supreme Court should consider interpreting the same under the shelter of "judicial activism" and the inherent powers set down by Article 141 of the Constitution.

Meera Kaura,

LL.B, II Year, Campus Law Centre,

Faculty of Law,

University of Delhi,

Delhi-110 007.

* * *

Railways' ways

Can the Railways have a more modern system of inscribing reserved coach numbers such as 'S 3', 'S 4' on the coaches than the antiquated system of writing them out with chalk or on a scrap of paper that blows away en route? Numbers that are distinctly visible during the entire course of the journey would lessen the anxiety, especially for passengers with reservation from midway stations, particularly so if their journey begins at night.

Also, at present the train arrives into the originating station with the coach numbers (S 1, S 2, etc.) from an earlier journey written on the coaches which, naturally, get changed for the ensuing new journey. Many passengers enter the coaches (with the old numbers still written on them) and make themselves comfortable, when the numbers get changed and they have to frantically move bag and baggage to the other end of the train. Can the train not enter the station with the new numbers on the coaches and avoid needless inconvenience to the passengers?

Arthur Monteiro,

N-11, Xavier Apartments,

Saraswati Vihar,

Delhi-110 034.

(Letters for this column may be sent by e-mail to wsins@thehindu.co.in. They must carry the full postal address of the writer and should be marked "Reader's Mail.)

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