In a Decade, Jammu's SRS Library Looses 2700 Books: RTI

Daily Excelsior, 27 June,2015

Authorities Napping, Defaulters Making Hay !

RTI Reveals Ranbir Library Looses Over 2700 Books in a Decade

Jammu,26/June/2015: A piece of information received under Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act has revealed that how does the ‘treasurer’ rare  books from the kitty of the Jammu’s historic Sri Ranbir Singh Library is being vanishing  and the authorities there remain inattentive.

RTI Reply obtained by  activist Raman Sharma from the office of Deputy Director Libraries Jammu vide their office order no. DDL/JP/2015/429 dated 10/06/2015  discloses that during the last 10 years,  2400 books have been damaged in the SRS library and around 327 books borrowed by its members have not been returned yet.

 In the communication letter the Deputy Director in response to the applicant’s query on whether any action is being taken against the defaulters, the officer has admitted that no action is taken against any defaulting member, neither their membership suspended nor cancelled.

The books swindled by the members include very rare books on different subjects including legal , spiritual, religious, academic, historic, health, political, culture and art written by  local, national and international authors like George Morrow, Khushwant Singh, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Prof Bhim Singh. The defaulters have also taken away the  Hindi, Urdu, Dogri and Kashmiri Poetry books of famous poets of Jammu and Kashmir.

Though the estimated cost of these 327 books as told by the department is Rs. 70,510 but in fact many books still in the possession of defaulters are priceless as there are some books whose other copy or  edition is not  available in the market. It is pertinent to mention here that as per the rule book of the SRS library , a member has to return a borrowed book to the library within 14 days but list of defaulters shows that some of them taken the book in Feb/2005 but even today they did not return back the book.

In another point of query the department has informed to the applicant that SRS library has a stock of  57, 341 books as on date and in the year 2014-15 the library did not receive any book whereas the total expenditure during the last 10 years on purchasing books is over 5 million rupees. (Rs. 5363541 ). 43 pages information carrying name, address and membership number of the 327 defaulters is also provided along with the reply.

While giving his reaction over the reply served by the directorate of libraries, the information seeker Raman Sharma said loss of over 2700 books is unacceptable and there must be some responsibility fixed on the negligent officers. Sharma said Books that are called as ‘treasure’ cannot be allowed to take away by defaulters and the people at the helm of affairs closing their eyes. He also demanded immediate action against the defaulters and publication of their name and address in the print and electronic media besides on the government websites.

Dainik Jagran 27 June 2015

also Published in State Times, Journey Line, Greater kashmir, JK Newspoint, Early Times, Rising Kashmir, State Observer and others.

The News Write up by:  Sahil Rasgotra    on Treasure--Books and Libraries Published on 28/May/2017
http://epaper.thenewsnow.co.in/index.aspx?page=13

Beware of Asterisk *

The Swindling Stars and Gullible Consumers

Raman Sharma

The   ’ ASTERISK’    is a Latin word and also been used in Greek, literally meaning a little star, academically in English language the symbol of word asterisk   ‘ * ‘   is used   as a footnote or  an explanation or a comment at the bottom of a page that refers back to a specific part of the text. But in modern days of consumerism the symbol of asterisk word is used to complicate facts, dupe, deceive, defraud, mislead, hide the truth and simply to rob the consumers.

In present era of print and electronic media, intentionally or ignorantly our lifestyle, dressing pattern,  eating habit  is by and large controlled or at least motivated by the content served in the media as direct advertisement or as an advertorial.  Mostly of us even do not understand that we do not eat what is good for us but we eat what is orchestrated in the media, we do not buy things which are essential for us but we are compelled to buy such products which the company wants to sell, the citizens are trapped emotionally to purchase such products that factually may not be necessary for them but an impression is created that the world is empty without having those articles or product.

The corporate companies with the help of skilled, intelligent  and creative advertisement makers and marketing experts knit a web around the innocent consumer that he falls in their trap. If we compare the expenditure incurred by the famous brand names in India for the production of any product or article  and then the amount spent on the marketing and advertising then we can understand that at least 60 to 70 percentage of gross revenue is  spent on advertisement, advertorials  and marketing, the figures may vary but different surveys suggest that the percent is no where less than 50 percent.  

In these advertisements we see famous (stars) icons of film, sports, glamour world claiming so much of their product and tutoring the viewers and readers only  goody goody things of the marketing product, they never even make slight mention of the possible hazards of the product. Today these stars are selling almost everything right from Luxurious flats to Sanitary Napkins, Tractor to Chewing Gum, Fairness Cream to Insurance products, obviously their appeal makes a sentimental impact on the potential customers and they tend towards the recommended product.  Not only these living stars cheat the innocent viewers readers but the typographical symbol stated above also do the same, it also cheats the consumers. Many a times after reading an advertisement in print or electronic media we rush to market to buy a specific product believing the content of the advertisement but on ground when we enter the showroom or sale venue we are being told the advertisement was conditional and we missed the symbol * that donates  “Conditions Apply”, we feel so helpless and humiliated, we are make to believe that it was our mistake but in fact this is corporate gimmick to clandestinely looting innocent consumers.

This practice of Asterisk or little star is to covertly burden an innocent consumer with the hidden cost which is never directly told to him but only revealed at the time of payment. For example the Tour and Travel companies offers x amount of money for 4 days holiday package in Singapore but when it comes to payment only then these hidden costs, the tax amount, service tax etc revealed and thus again the trapped consumers felt helpless and has to bear the burden.

The present piece of writing is not  intended  to bash the advertisement makers and the corporates but of course we cannot close our eyes when these advertisements that inform less and hide more about their product and cost and ultimately the innocent consumer becomes the victim  of these covert advertisements. It is also true that the advertisements allows freedom of choice to the consumer to buy the most genuine product amongst the range of  variants of any article in the market. The prevention is always better than the cure therefore as a responsible consumer and citizen it is our duty to remain vigilant once again it is requested to all the esteemed readers to beware of both stars, the living stars and the symbol * at least while going for shopping. The government agencies, the media and the consumer rights activists should also come forward in highlighting the meaning of this little star. 

PUBLISHED IN JOURNEY LINES, THE NORTHLINES.

http://journeyline.in/newsdet.aspx?q=83260 

Stop Rhetoric, Now Act against Land Mafia

" We cannot allow the goons to mock our law and order machinery under the mask of being politicians, Policeman or revenue official"

by: Rama Sharma

Here in our state  we all know about the loot of state land by the politicians and officers but it becomes more serious and worrisome  with the recent statement of Bali Bhagat  , Jammu and Kashmir ,Minister for Forests and Environment where the minister has openly admitted   the nexus between land grabbers, police officers, revenue officials and senior politicians of the state who have encroached upon a large part of forest land.  The minister has also made shocking revelation  that  the government has information that these politicians have got the record of such land destroyed in a systematic way. Though he also assured that the records from archives would be used to   retrieve the land from illegal occupants.

This is high time, the state government should stop blame game and come clean on this serious issue, we cannot allow the goons to mock our law and order machinery under the mask of being politicians, Policeman or revenue official.

At least this minister has shown some guts to speak up on this serious issue which is otherwise not even whispered by many other politicians. The allegation of the Forest Minister is very serious in nature and needs immediate action against these land  mafias. In his statement the minister has acknowledged the influence of Bigwigs in this loot of state land without any fear of law. It is unfortunate that despite knowing the facts about the involvement of police officers, revenue officials and politicians yet no action is taken against them. It would have been better that for the sake of transparency if the minister had revealed  the names  of these corrupt politicians and police officers who till now are enjoying perks and official protocol, who instead of being behind the bars are enjoying cool air of air conditioners in the multi storey bungalows. 

Anyhow,Taking  suo moto cognizance of the statement of the minister, the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission should also swing into action and take legal action in this matter without any further delay. Similarly, Director General of Police till now should have  at least ordered a departmental probe to identify the black sheeps in the police department who do not hesitate to grab government land using their official men and machinery, there are many instances where these policemen in proximity with Goons usurp not only state land but also private land of citizens and pressurise them to either sell off their land for peanut or just face the illegal wrath of these Goons in Khaki.

Out of 22 districts, there is no district in the state where the State land, forest land, Irrigation Land belonging to government is not illegally occupied by the miscreants and that too with the full support and patronage of the revenue officials, in fact no one can even dare to occupy one inch of land without the connivance of the revenue department. The respective deputy commissioners of all the districts should also act tough against the rogue elements in their offices and put an embargo on this practice.

Our forests, graveyards, cremation grounds, temples, other religious places, schools, rivers, Khads, wetlands, hills, plains, Nallahs and Playgrounds nothing is spared by these land mafia and our government helplessly remain mute spectator.

Our officers are brave enough to dismantle small Kullahs and temporary Rehris Pharis of poor people but what about those who have built mansions on government land , why these brave officers, Khilaafwarzi officers of the JDA,SDA, LAWDA, JMC, SMC, Revenue Department and police department hesitate even to enter the premises of these white collared goons.  Many of us might remember the statement of our former revenue minister Raman Bhalla where he had assured that the state government would invoke Public Safety Act against the land grabbers but unfortunately it was just rhetoric, not even a single land grabber was ever even arrested for usurping the state land. State Land worth billions of rupees is under illegal occupation of the miscreants who without any legal right playing hide and seek with the government, in a few cases where even some honest officers took legal action against the defaulters, these defaulters have taken the shield of our slow judicial process and the matter remain pending there in the honourable Courts and then again our government departments do not seriously pursue these cases in the courts of the law. 

There must be coordination between the executive wing, Law department and the prosecution wing of the state to act against these mafias. Let’s hope, the present dispensation of PDP-BJP act and break this unholy nexus of Police-Politicans and Land grabbers. 

Published in kashmir Times on 10th June, Journey Lines, on 11th of June, 2015.

NHRC approached for security of J&K panchayat members

zeenews

http://zeenews.india.com/news/jammu-and-kashmir/nhrc-approached-for-security-of-jandk-panchayat-members_810412.html

Jammu: A social activist from here has filed a petition before National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking directions for the Jammu and Kashmir government for providing security to panchayat members (elected village heads) in wake of militants' threat to them.  

Raman Sharma, who is also a Right to Information (RTI) activist, said that he has approached the NHRC with a petition, "praying that after the open threat from Hizbul (Mujahideen) chief Syed Salahuddin, the panchayat members of the state along with their family members are under high pressure and worried about their life."

The petition addressed to the NHRC chairman is for seeking direction for the "state and the union government to ensure adequate security arrangements for the elected village representatives."

Expressing concern over the matter of threat given by Pakistan-based Salahudin who is also the chairman of the United Jihad Council (UJC), Sharma in his petition has said: "If no prompt action is taken in this case, then these innocent panchayat members may succumb to the the diktat of the terror commander where he has asked them to either submit their resignation or face the consequences."

Sharma blamed both state and central government for being insincere towards this serious issue as they have not assured any sort of protection to any panchayat member.

The activist has urged the NHRC to issue necessary directions to both the government to take prompt action concerning the lives of more than 33,000 panchayat members and their family.

The Hizbul chief had in a recent interview to a media organization said: "Panches and sarpanches (heads and members of rural self-government institutions) are exploited by India to project Kashmir as pro-India, and as such, they will continue to be targeted...We call on them to resign from their posts and not allow themselves to be used to undermine the liberation movement in Kashmir."

Till now a total of 10 panchayat members have been killed by the militants in the state since polls that concluded June last year.

This and continuing threat of militants forced about 600 elected village panches and sarpanches to resign in the state till date in different phases.

IANS  

                                                                                         

COPY OF PETITION TO NHRC BY RAMAN SHARMA

--------------------------------------------

TETX MATTER OF PETITION TO NHRC

                      MOST URGENT

Honorable Chairperson,

National Human Rights Commission, NHRC                                   Dated: 07/Nov/2012   

(Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, PIN 110001)

                                   

Subject: Life threat to 33000 elected Panchayat Members in Jammu and Kashmir.

Honourable Sir,

Appellant is an ordinary citizen of India residing in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I seek your permission to submit a very important issue concerning lives of more than 33000 human souls to your kind notice and necessary directions. The details are as follow:

You might be aware of the unfortunate fact that 3--4 days back, terror outfit Hizbul Mujahidin’s Chief Syed Salahudin who is operating from cross LoC has openly threatened the elected Panches and Sarpanches of Jammu and Kashmir State to resign from their posts or get ready to face  the dire consequences. The statement of the Hizbul Chief was also published in various national newspapers of the country.

 Sir, this open threat by the terror outfit’s commander has busted a sense of fear and panic amongst      

 the elected Panches, Sarpanches and their family members. Anyhow appreciably there are some brave Panchayat representatives who refused to obey the diktats of terror Organization and appealed other colleagues not to resign under any pressure.

But today the fact of the ground situation is that there is obviously a sense of fear-psychosis amongst these Panchayat representatives and they have termed this threat as “Death Warrant”. Their family members are also living under huge pressure and trauma.

Unfortunately, neither the State government of Jammu and Kashmir nor the Government of India have assured any sort of protection to any Panchayat member. Both governments have failed to en-trust these village representatives about their safety and security. And if no immediate action is taken, then these Panchayat members may succumb to the unholy diktats of the terrorists who want to weaken the institutions of democracy.

Under the constitution, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure protection to each member of the society, but without assigning any valid reason both the governments in this case have raised their hands and did nothing for the protection of Panchayat members who are strengthening the principle of democracy at grass root level.

Now, through this representation I request you to kindly issue necessary directions to both the governments to take prompt action in this serious matter relating to lives of more than 3300 panches, sarpanches and their family members.  It is also requested to seek detailed report from the state government of J & K about the action taken by it on the issue.

Once again an early action on this appeal is prayed and highly solicited.

                                      

                                                                                                                        Yours Faithfully,

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            RAMAN SHARMA,

Postal Address: __XXXXXXX__  Jammu-180001( J & K) Mobile. 9796811012, e.mail: aramansharma143@gmail.com. 

Restrict Sale of Maggi in School, Hospital Canteens till Declared 'Safe to Eat' : RTI Activist

Till  Declared  ‘ Safe  to  Eat ’ ;  Ban  Maggi  in School, Hospital Canteens:  RTI Activist

Jammu, 31/May/2015: Demanding a ban on sale of ‘ Maggi’ in School and Hospital Canteens  today a request has been made to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed by Raman Sharma an RTI Activist.

In his petition  ( ref. no 54842 )  to the Chief Minister  through Grievance Cell, Sharma has submitted     “I am worried  about the  news report appearing in national media about the presence of MSG, Monosodium Glumate and Lead in ‘ Maggi ’ a sort of noodles that  are quite famous in the country and obviously in Jammu and Kashmir also”.

In addition the activist also highlighted casual approach of the State Food Authorities in dealing with this issue, he has stated that this product (Maggi) is available in all hotel, restaurants, Education Institutions’ Canteens in Jammu, Kashmir and even parts of Ladakh but till date we have not heard that the authorities belonging to J & K Drug & Food Control Organization taking samples from anywhere to confirm whether this product is safe to eat for citizens especially the minor children.

In the petition it has been further demanded that  J & K Drug & Food Control Organization be directed to immediately pick samples randomly and get them tested from reputed laboratories to confirm the presence of  MSG, Monosodium Glumate and Lead in this product and till final result and expert report of the samples, the product be banned in Hotel, Restaurants, School, College and Hospital Canteens.

It is pertinent to mention here that situation is more serious  here because millions of tourists and pilgrims visiting all the three regions of the state and they also prefer this instant noodle for being economical and easily available. The activists  has also urged that if the official results confirm this product fit to be consumed by human being then the ban be revoked immediately so that people associated with its sales and marketing do not get affected. 

Published in Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Times, JK Newspoint, Early Times, State Times, Journey Line and other newspapers and newsportals. 

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/jammu/story/187909.html

Rajouri Health Department : 91 Posts Advertised, 93 Candidates Selected

This can happen only in JK: 91 posts advertised, 93 candidates selected

Akshay Azad  Early Times Report  Jammu, May 14: The District Health Society (DHS) Rajouri has created a record of sorts to address the shortage of manpower in various health institutions. Recently, the DHS advertised 91 posts of Female Multi Purpose Health Worker (FMPHW) but 93 candidates were selected, creating doubt over the entire selection process. According to the documents in possession of Early Times, on March 10 the DHS had invited applications for filling posts in different health institutions under the National Health Mission (NHM).  The advertised posts included nine of Arsh Councilor and 91 of FMPHW (70 posts for new sub-centers and 21 for old health institutions). On May 12, the DHS released the provisional selection list of candidates engaged under NHM Rajouri. According to the list issued by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) office Rajouri, a total of 93 FMPHWs were engaged against the 91 posts advertised. The FMPHWs engaged included 16 in block Kalakote, 15 in Darhal, 22 in Manjakote, 7 in Sunderbani, 14 in Nowshera, 6 in Kandi. Moreover, 13 more candidates of adjoining block were also selected for filling the vacant posts in block Kandi on contractual basis under NHM Rajouri "due to non-availability of eligible candidates within the block". Questioning the selection process, a resident of Rajouri said, "It seemed some blue-eyed candidates have been adjusted in lieu of some pecuniary benefits." However, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Rajouri, Dr. Anees Altaf argued that in the notification issued on March 10, the item number 14 read as, "The number of posts can be increased or decreased at any time of placement process" Early Times, 15/May/2015: http://earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=149490

6 Years of RTI in J & K: A Lot has been Done, Yet More is Required !

6  Years of  J & K  RTI  Act

A Lot has been  Done, Yet  More is  Required!

RAMAN SHARMA

20^th March 2009 is an important date in the democratic history of Jammu and Kashmir State, on this auspicious day, the honourable governor Narinder Nath Vohra gave his assent to the bill passed by the state   legislature and the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009 came into operation on the same day at once. with  some provisions of the act, were suppose to be passed within 120 days of the enactment of the legislature.

In these last 6 years, a lot has been done by the state government, Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission, the General Administration Department, the Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administration and Rural Development (JKIMPA), Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, (CHRI) the Jammu University, Indian Institute of Public Administration(JK Chapter) and of course by the print and electronic media. Without the support of these important institutions, the success of the RTI have remained merely a dream and we the citizens have not been able to see the significant changes.

The Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission in these last 4 years since appointment of its all the  members have given landmark judgements and brought a confidence amongst the citizens to use Right to Information Act to make the government and public authorities accountable. The commission head by Chief Information Commissioner along with two other commissioners till date have decided over 2500 cases including complaint and second appeals and directed the Public Information officers to provide information to the citizens. The commissioners in a  number of cases imposed penalties on the erring officers and in some other cases issued explanation notices against the responding officers. Though in the RTI Act there is also a provision of compensation to the information seeker but in this regard the record of the commission is very poor and only in just one case so far available on the commission’s website the compensation of rupees 2000 is awarded to a lady. The commission while deciding appeals and complaints also gave some controversial decisions which were also challenged by the information seekers and the officers and the Courts have stayed the operation of the commission’s order. But overall the Commission has been able to sustain its credibility at least with comparison to other watchdog commissions operating in the state.

The General Administration Department, GAD which is nodal department for ensuing training of Public Information officers, 1^st appellate authorities and even for citizens and other related issues connected with the RTI Act have also performed well in these last 6 years. Over thousands of Public Information Officers from different department on the behest and supervision of GAD undergone RTI training. Though lot more is expected from the GAD, almost negligible number of awareness programs being   carried by GAD for citizens. The department have also not taken seriously the genuine demand of the Public Information officers where they are asking for supportive staff and budgetary provision for providing information to the information seekers.

The Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development, JKIMPA in these last 6 years and especially after 2011 have conducted 100’s of training programs for all Public Information Officers, senior officers and even for the junior staffers in the institute campus both in Jammu and Srinagar. The faculty members of the JKIMPA in collaboration with the JKSIC also organized RTI training programs for all the district level PIO’s at their own district and covered almost all the 22 districts of the state.  Furthermore to strengthen the reach of the RTI act, the institute have now included the important provisions of the  RTI Act and rules as part of its regular curriculum for training to different level of officers including the trainee KAS officers. In these 6 years the IMPA have also conducted a very few programs for the general mass awareness.

In these six years or even perhaps more than that the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative(CHRI) an organization of International repute working for the promotion of RTI Act across the globe have contributed a lot for making this law more familiar amongst the citizens, through its local partners both from Kashmir and Jammu, the CHRI provided logistic and financial support for conducting training programs in School, Colleges, District offices and at Panchayat Levels for creating awareness about the law besides distributing pamphlets, other pictorial literature,  in year 2012 the organization even came with a User Guide carrying success stories, copy of the act, rules, important judgements of the Commission and other Court in a very simple and meaningful pattern. As compared to year 2010, 11 and 2012 this organization have also curtailed its programs in Jammu and Kashmir during the last 2 years.

Different departments of Jammu University have also conducted a number of seminars and debates on Right to information act with a participation of good number of students, unfortunately neither the Jammu or University of Kashmir took any initiative to include RTI Act as a part of syllabus. The Jammu and Kashmir Government in one of its reply in the state legislative assembly have assured to include the act as a part of syllabus even by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education which also remained a mere promise.

The IIPA, the Indian Institute of Public Administration (J & K Chapter ) also conducted a number of seminars on this transparency law including the participation of Information Commissioners, Senior Officers and the people from the legal fraternity. The IIPA have also failed to ensure the participation of general masses, students which are the real stakeholder for promotion of this law. The IIPA confined its activities in its branch office and did not make any attempt to reach the rural population.

Without the whole heartedly support of media, this journey of RTI Act would not been have achieved anything and this law might have remained as merely boring and dull piece of legislation. The journalists associated with print and electronic media deserve many appreciations for their encouragement of Information Seekers where they have given ample space to the news stories related to the information gathered under Right to information Act. Even the present write up would not have come up, if the editors have not been supportive to the cause of Right to Information Act. But like other institutions, the media have done a  good service to this law but yet many editors are hesitant to give due credit to the information seekers and are reluctant to publish news stories coming through the revelation made under RTI replies, many a times, the name of the information seeker is deliberately erased, though it is discretionary right of the editor to decide what to carry or not in his newspaper but they must also recognise the fact that in this trouble hit state, even today getting information under this act is not so easy and it requires lot of guts, time and patience.   

Last but not the least, the citizens deserve all the credit for making this law so familiar amongst themselves, today the people are using this law for variety of different reasons, right from getting copy of mark sheet from university/Board to Certified copies of Fard Intikhaab documents from the revenue department. Today the residents of Jammu and Kashmir are resorting Right to Information applications to seek information from State Legislature to Panchayats, office of Block Development Officer to the office of Chief Secretary, undoubtedly there are resistance from some officers who see transparency as their foe but the movement of citizens have compelled these officers to respond. 

As a personal experience, I must also congratulate the State Police department for honouring the transparency law who have responded to almost all my RTI queries without any pressure or delay and in the RTI replies they honestly admitted the shortcomings in their department which is a separate issue. 

In short, in this small period of 6 years the citizens have now started believing in themselves, the power conferred to them by this act of State legislature, this is one of the finest law people ever got in the democratic history of the country. No attempt should be made to weaken it on the pretext of misusing and blackmailing, the only requirement is to make people aware about this law and to ensure proper training and infrastructure for the PIOs.  

Why Not Dress Code for Politicians ?

Raman Sharma

Without any personal prejudice to the ongoing debate and issue of alleged harassment caused by the Health Minister to a Lady Doctor in Jammu, the allegations by the doctor and counter reply by the minister, the debate and moot question here is about the apron, the minister alleges the lady doctor wasn’t wearing the apron, whereas the doctor says she was in social gathering so did not felt the need to wear it and the minister was rude. There are different statements from different people about the issue, some supporting the doctor others standing with the ministers justifying his action. Therefore  without having any proof that who is economical with the truth, let us not take sides.

 But this episode really calls for a debate about dress codes for different professionals, people associated with medical field are suppose to put on white dress, those in legal professions’ black, people associated with defence and security forces also have a guideline for their dress codes.

 Every profession here is suppose to follow proper dress code while on duty, even where there is no such guidelines for any dress code then also people working there adopt self adopted pattern of dress and that may not be necessarily a uniform.

In our country every Public Servant is suppose to enter and leave his office on time, for every job in the country be it even of temporary class  iv or labourer, there is minimum fixed educational qualification, fixed minimum and maximum age to join any job but when it comes to the politicians of the country, there is no guideline, rule. They are above the law, there is no fixed time for ministers to enter their offices and they also not accountable to anyone whether they come at 2 in the afternoon or 10 P.M late night.

 They may go to their office as and when they wish and if feel not, they can even call the officers at their home without any liability. Every officers be it senior or junior is suppose to own and display an identity card at least while on duty but most of the ministers and legislatures here feel that  everyone  must recognize and salute them whenever and wherever they go, obviously necessarily not with their performance of work but with the hefty security apparatus and coterie of sycophants around them. When we say everyone is equal before the eye of law then why this double standards, why our politicians in these last 66 years did not make any such law to make them accountable and disciplined, why they always tried to burden the ordinary citizens with rules and law and always wanted immunity from law. Surely the officers must reach their offices well on time and should not leave their seats before the office hours and follow proper dress code ( if asked by law) but why our Mantris, MLA’s, MLCs, MPs do not follow any dress code, why they not legally accountable. Though we should not impose any uniform for our Member of Parliament and Legislatures because they come from different parts of the country and state respectively but they should also have a dress code. Wearing a garland of currency notes by a minister  in an official program is not acceptable, Under Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and  RBI Act, 1934, the Reserve Bank of India  have already stringently warned everyone that Banknotes should be respected as they are a symbol of the ‘Sovereign’ and no one should  misuse them.  A Minister may be allowed to choose whether to wear Kurta Pyajma, Dhoti or Jeans whatever he likes but not Currency Notes. I strongly support a well behaved dress code for politicians. ( Raman Sharma, is an RTI activist and can be reached at jkrtiact@gmail.com )