Greenhorns can’t check answer-sheets

Greenhorns can’t check answer-sheets
This has reference to ‘Students’ answer-sheets go to greenhorns’ (April 5). In the absence of eligible teachers to evaluate answer-sheets, appointing inexperienced and unapproved teachers from colleges to appraise answer-sheets is preposterous. The fate of students, who have put in umpteen number of study hours in order to obtain maximum marks possible and pass out with flying colours, is in the hands of untrained teachers. This apparently puts the students’ future in jeopardy. It is the responsibility of Mumbai University to train teachers and be well prepared with an approved list of teachers for answer-sheet assessment. Of late, the university is going through internal problems and its functioning is deteriorating by the day. We hope with the appointment of the new registrar the operations of the university will smoothen out.
—Jitendra Kothari

No depth
This has reference to ‘Lavasa: What’s all the fuss about’ (April 5). The analysis by Francois Gautier is utter nonsense. The author conveniently forgets the court’s strictures passed from time to time on this issue and does not mention the dubious ways and means by which this whole deal was done with the government of Maharashtra. He talks about 1 million trees, shrubs and stump being planted. Had he ever visited this place before Lavasa came up? Has he bothered to find out what are the species of tree planted and what species existed before? Has he even bothered to read any environmental impact report or does he really bother about the environment? As regards to the opposition of Medha Patkar and her intentions — who is stopping him from going to the court or the government of India? I am sure the government authorities would willingly oblige. One thing that I know about Patkar is that she travels in buses and trains and she is willing to fast for a cause. I feel DNA should have avoided publishing such an article which openly supports private enterprise.
—Sunil Vaidya

A clarification
I am shocked to read the news item ‘Uncovered: Adarsh-like scam in Bandra’ (April 4) which alleged that I was not eligible to have a house in Saiprasad Co-op Hsg Society by the virtue of the fact of owning a flat in Oshiwara. This is damaging to my reputation. I wish to clarify catagorically that I don’t have a flat in Oshiwara. I had resigned as a member of Meera Co-op Hsg Society in Oshiwara even before the construction of the society and my resignation was accepted by the Meera Co-op Hsg Society and I was informed accordingly by the chairman of the society on 22 January, 2003. I also stated this fact in my affidavit and informed the government accordingly. It is important to note that my resignation was accepted by the Meera Co-op Hsg Society on 20 January, 2003 and the government approved my membership of Saiprasad Hsg Society vide the memorandum dated 24 January, 2003.
—Swadheen S Kshatriya, Addl. Chief secretary (Revenue), Maharashtra  

What coup?
This has reference to ‘Coup? What coup?’ (April 5). The false alarm raised by the ‘breaking news’ about the movement of army units towards New Delhi came as a rude shock to the average Indian. As a matter of fact, this is the second such occasion when the capital went agog with a similar type of rumour since Independence. It was around mid March 1977, when all of a sudden ‘news’ spread across the country that the largest democracy was going to be put under Martial Law, which was to be administered by a civilian head. Fortunately, for the nation, it proved to be a damp squib.
—Arun Malankar

Right place for business
This has reference to ‘King of bad times seeks divine help’  (April 5). Vijay Mallya conducting puja to seek divine help for his troubled airline is just another gimmick. It will not help pilots and the staff of Kingfisher Airlines in getting their salaries, nor will it inspire confidence in flyers to use KA. Who said India is the worst place to do business? After reading reports about KA, one is forced to conclude that India is the best place to do business. Businessmen need not repay bank loans; nothing happens. It is only for the lesser mortals to fear for their flats being attached for non-payment of housing loans. You continue to do your business, your assets are not attached. Your licence to do business is not cancelled. You continue to manage the affairs of the company and be in charge. India should be the number one country in the world to do business (if you have right connections in the right places).
— Deendayal Lulla

Auto menace
Apropos of ‘Serial striker at it again; autos may go off road from April 16’ (April 5), it is sickening to see the autorikshaw union, headed by the rabble-rousing Sharad Rao, has again threatened to go on an indefinite stir to press for its demands that include an interim hike in the minimum fare by Rs5 and 1 lakh new permits. The automen of the metropolis have started flexing their muscles recently because of the proximity of their leader to the NCP bosses. They are holding the city to ransom by their periodic unruly behaviour and unreasonable demands exploiting the helplessness of the people. The RTO officials are unable to rein them in because of the patronage they enjoy from the ruling coalition. The government should invoke the essential services act and put behind bars the union leaders who incite the automen to create chaos in the transport system. It should at no cost concede the automen’s demand for the issue of new permits as the suburbs are already cluttered with a large number of autos.
—V Rajalkshmi