Letters to The Editor

The threat of COVID-19 has not diminished but majority of the people are behaving like they have won the battle against the virus. Recently two teachers of Don Bosco School, Panbazar have tested positive for coronavirus. The most dangerous part is that school authorities led by the Principal tried to hide the matter. The school management has shown utter negligence and callousness by not immediately reporting it to the district administration. In fact, school Principal allegedly ordered the faculty and office staff to be tight lipped. The news of the teachers getting positive came out from the guardians of students. When the guardians rushed to school on hearing the news, the school Principal refused to meet them and also barred them from entering the school campus. This is height of irresponsibility from a Principal who didn't even think for a second that he is playing with the lives of thousands of students. I sincerely hope that the district administration would take appropriate action against the Principal for negligence.

Lalit Kumar Agarwal

Guwahati

Prime property at 7 Jantar Mantar Road

The Prime property at 7 Jantar Mantar Road (New Delhi) before partition of the Congress in the year 1969 used to be power centre for the country with ruling (United) Congress having its headquarters there. A group (syndicate) of party heavyweights used to command the country through its appointed person as the Prime Minister. The syndicate lost its relevance with party dividing in Old Congress and New Congress when Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister revolted by opposing official party candidate Neelam Sanjeev Reddy for the post of President of India, and instead favoured Dr VV Giri. The building then remained with the Old Congress which in post-emergency in the year 1977 merged into the Janta Party, thus the property becoming headquarters of the ruling Janta Party.

But thereafter, subsequent to the break up of the Janta Party, Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) following a CIC-verdict CIC-KY-A-2015-000810-YA revealed that no lease has been executed with the AICC. It would be appropriate not to accede to the request to transfer or execute a deed in favour of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Trust and the property as on date vests with the Central Government be put to an alternative use.

The property since then is lying in a very bad shape with many encroachments. Since it was allotted to a political party which no longer exists, the MoUD should take its custody and get it vacated from occupants and encroachers. Steps should also be taken in respect of other buildings allotted to political parties having lost entitlement. Even buildings constructed on land given on subsidized rates to political parties should be taken over by the government in case of their split or nonexistence rather than allowing to be occupied by individuals for personal interests. Since political parties are defying the CIC-verdict dated 03.06.2013 for their being public authority, system of allotment of government accommodations and plots to political parties must be abolished.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

Delhi

Early release

The All Assam Engineers' Association and eminent citizens from the State have appealed to ULFA (I) 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua to release the abducted duo immediately without causing them any harm.

Paresh Barua talked to the executive of a television channel on February 21 and said that "A way would come; wait and see." We, the people of Assam, request the ULFA (I) to release the abducted duo on humanitarian ground.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali.