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Introduction

A good discussion will try to arrive at a solution that shows balance. You need to demonstrate yourunderstandingof the issue frommore thanoneperspectivealone.Theconclusionat theendshould indicateafiltrationofthemorerelevantissuesandrecommendationsforpolicies/changesthatcanbemadeinthecurrentsystem.Givenbelowareafewsampletopicsalongwithpointerstowardswhatkindofconclusionscanbedrawnfromthediscussion.

Shouldweallowincurablydiseasedpersonstoliveornot?

ShouldCapitalpunishmentbeabolished?

Whatisdesirablelovemarriageorarrangedmarriage?

IsScienceacurseoraboon?

Seniority,NotMerit,MustBeTheCriterionForPromotions

AreReservationsInJobsJustified?

WhatformofDemocracyisbetterparliamentaryorpresidential?

Shouldweallowincurablydiseasedpersonstoliveornot?

PointsInFavour:

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Ifwefeelsadtokillevenananimalorabird,howcanourconscienceallowustokillafellowhumanbeingjustbecauseheisincurablyill?Moreoverhehasdonenoharmtosocietyandhisillnessisnotbecauseofhisfault.Therefore,wemustprovidehimpropertreatmentandallowhimtoliveaslongasnaturehaswilledit

God has gifted us life. So, he alone has the right to take it back. No human being has a right tointerfere inHisschemeof things.Onceon thisearth,everymanhasa right to liveas longasGoddoes not want him to die.Therefore,the reasoning that just because a man is suffering from anincurabledisease,heshouldbeputtodeathisuntenableandbeyondreason

Itisnotalwaysthecasethatincurablydiseasedpersonsspreadcontagiousdiseasesassomemightargue. Even in those rare cases where it may be true, these persons are not real health hazardsbecauseitismedicallyestablishednowthatallincurablediseasesarenotcontagious.However,asaprecautionarymeasure,we should open separate hospitals or isolationwards for persons sufferingfromincurablecontagiousdiseasesandthusquarantinethem.

Killing an incurably diseased person will put an end to research work in medical science. Evenotherwise, suffering people have been the subject of research work quite less. Now new vistas ofprogress have been opened in medical sciences and alternative medicine like Acupuncture,Acupressure, Reiki Pranik healing, Touch therapy, Herbal therapy, Diet therapy, etc. hold a ray ofhopeforthesocalledincurablydiseasedpersons.So,whysnatchlifefromthem?

Pointsagainst:

Thisworld isgovernedbyDarwin's survival of the fittest principle.An incurablydiseasedperson isweakandhasnovaluewhatsoever to thesociety.Moreover,hehasnomeansto live.Therefore, itwouldbeinthefitnessofthingstokillhimevenagainsthiswish.

Anincurablydiseasedpersonisthecauseofconstantworrytohisfamily,hisdemandsareunendingandnotwithstandingthebestpossibleattention,careandtreatmentgiventohim,healwaysremainsdissatisfied and disgruntled. This adversely affects peace of mind and comfort of the familymembers.Therefore,thebestwayoutofsuchasituationistoputanendtohislife.

Thesedayswearesaddledwith theresponsibilityof reducingourburgeoningpopulation.Themanydiseasedpersonsconstituteagoodpart of it.Evenotherwise their contribution to societybeingnilandburdengreat,itwouldbejustifiedandreasonablenottoallowthemtodragontheiragonizinglife.

Conclusion:Defininggrayareasissomethingwhichanyamountoflegislationcanneverachieve.Ourpoliciesneedtoensure that thegroupofpeople takingadecision to terminate the life isdoingso in thebest interestof



ShouldCapitalpunishmentbeabolished?

thepatientandsociety.

InFavourOfAbolition:

Manissupposedtobearationalanimal.Butcanarationalbeingkillamanforaman?No.Becauseitwouldbesavageandbarbarous.Besides,bykillingamurdererthedeadcannotbebroughtbacktolife,norwouldheorhis familybecompensated.So, instead,weshouldreformthekiller,makehimrealizehissinandfollowavirtuouslife.

Ifwekillthemurderer,histroublesareover.Buthisfamilyismadetosufferfornofaultoftheirs.Weshould insteadgivehimsomeotherpunishment,say, forexample, life imprisonmentsothathehasto face his own conscience and repent for what he has done. Alongside, he should be givenpsychologicaltreatmentandanopportunitytoleadanormalcitizen'slife.

Instances are many where instead of being given capital punishment to even hardened criminals,theywerejustimprisonedorputinareformatorywiththeresultthattheyrealizedandregrettedtheirwrongdoings,theirtermsofsentenceswerereducedasareward.Suchactsenabledthemtoservetheirinnocentfamiliesandtheyeventurnedtowardssocialwork.Thisshowstheircapitalpunishmentisnottheonlyremedytotakecareofcriminals.

Weobservetodaythat inspiteofcapitalpunishmentbeingverymuchthereonthestatute,heinouscrimes are not decreasing. It goes to show that capital punishment is no deterrent for criminals.Therefore,wemustthinkofchangingthemethodofpunishment.Over30countriesintheworldhaveabolished capital punishment but none has reported any increase in crime. Therefore, deathpunishmentisnotjustifiedfromanyangle.

Thereasoncapitalpunishmentshouldbeabolished isbasedon the fact thatsometimes judgmentsgowrong,and,consequently,innocentpeoplearehanged.Thisisbecauseofthelegalisticjugglingofclever lawyers.Evenotherwise instancesarenot rarewhencorruptpoliceofficialsarebroughtoverthrough money and political power to file patently cooked up charge sheets in the court andmagistrates in turn passdoubtful judgments. Theonlyway to preclude thepossibility of error is toabolish capital punishment itself. Benefit of Doubt is an important point of law and rightly sobecauselawholdsthat99guiltycangounpunishedbutevenoneinnocentshouldnotbepunished.InthesamespiritourSupremeCourthasheld thatdeathpenaltyshouldbeawardedonly in rarestoftherarecases.

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Wehavenoright todestroywhatwecannotcreate. It is forGodtogiveortakeone's life.Mercy ishigher inhiseyesthanpunishment. It isbarbaroustoholdthedoctrineoftoothfor toothandlimbfor limb.Great soul like JesusChrist even say If aman slaps you on one cheek, show him theothercheekalso.OurownMahatmaGandhi forgavethepersonwhostabbedhimandwouldsurelyhavepardonedNathuramGodsewhokilledhim.NehruignoredthepleaofseveraltrueGandhiansforGodse'slifebysaying,Thelawwillhaveitscourse.But isn't it true,asCharlesDickenssaid,thatthelawisanidiot?

AgainstAbolition:

Thetimeisnotyetripetoabolishcapitalpunishment.Thereisnoletupincrimes.Capitalpunishmentisaneffectivedeterrentforwouldbeoffendersandmurderers.Thosewhoarguethatdespitecapitalpunishment being there on the statute book crime in on the increase fail to understand that it isbecause of our faulty justice delivery systemwhere justice delayed is justice denied, and not theotherwayround.

Therearecertainkindsofhardenedcriminalswhoarebeyondreform.Itisfutiletoteachthemsanity.Killing others has become their second nature and they have dozens of murder cases pendingagainstthem.Itwouldonlybeforthegoodofsocietythattheyaresenttothegallowsandthustheircareerincrimeisstopped.

Ifamurderer isnotput todeathbut insteadallowedto liveon,he is temptedtorepeat thecrime infuture. It often happens that murderers set at large through police connivance or legal trickery oflawyersindulgeinmoreheinouscrimesforfunorcontractkillingsuntiltheyarecaughtandkilled.

In some Muslim countries like Pakistan, Iran, Dubai, etc. where laws are rigid and even pettycriminalsareawardedharshpunishments, crime is rare.Similarly inFascist countrieswheredeathpenalty is awarded for negligence of duty or other offences, efficiency and honesty are found inabundance.JawaharlalNehruoncefavoredcapitalpunishmentforblackmarketeersaswell.Idonotwanttoharmthemeanest insectbut itwouldgivemethegreatestpleasuresofallblackmarketeersarehungupbythenecktilldeath.

Punishmentmustbeproportional to thecrime.Onewho takesa life,shouldpay for itwithhisownlife.Thatalonecanhaveadeterrenteffectonthecriminals.Itisbothethicallyandpracticallywrongtoshowanyleniencytohardboiledcriminals.Wewouldbeexcusingorplacatingcriminalsonlyatourownperil because then theywould feel emboldened to commit further crime. Therefore, though 'aneyeforaneye'and'atoothforatooth'appearsbrutalbutitisthedemandoftruejustice.

Amurderenotonlykillsahumanbeingbutalsomakesthelifeofhisvictim'sdependantsmiserable,because inmost suchcases their breadwinner is snatched from themand in someextremecases



Whatisdesirablelovemarriageorarrangedmarriage?

theymight go after the blood of themurderer andmight kill them. Therefore, it is advisable that amurdererisputtodeathbythearmofthelawitself.

Crime is contagious. Hence quick dispensation of justice and award of capital punishment tohardenedcriminals,astheydoitinPakistan,Bangladeshandinsomeothercountries,cansurelynipthiscontagioninthebudandprovehelpfulinimprovingthelawandordersituationinourcountry.

Conclusion:What crimes are amongst the rarest of the rare? Definitions of crime are subjective. Human life isinvaluableboththevictim'sandthemurderer's.Societyneedsdeterrentstocrime.Thebestpolicywouldbetodetercrimewiththelowestpossibleharmtomembersofsociety.

InFavourOfLoveMarriage:

YoungpeopleshouldbeallowedtochoosetheirownpartnersbecausenaturehassomadethemthatuponreachingtheageofconsentyoungboysandgirlsfeelnaturallyattractedtowardsthememberofoppositesexwhomtheyfindtobeMr.RightorMissRightforthemselves.

Inarrangedmarriages,parentsarenotinapositiontoknowthegirlwellenoughthatis,theymaynotbeawareofherpersonality traits. Inarrangedmarriages,wegenerallyget toknowabout the familybackground and outward appearance of the girl or the boy, their educational attainments, careerplans, etc. and in the case of girls, their interest and proficiency in household affairs cooking,knitting, tailoring, etc. But success or failure of married life depends on the basic temperament,natureandcompatibilityorotherwiseof thepartner.Therefore, tomakemarriageasuccess,youngmen and women should be supported in selecting partners of their choice suiting each other'stemperament.

Thepresumption that love isblindandhenceayounggirl orboywill justpickup forahusbandorwife, the firstboyorgirl theycomeacrosswhen theyaregrownup isnot justified.Wecannotsaywithcertaintythatayoungboyorgirlwillnottakeallaspectsintoconsiderationbeforeembarkingonaloveaffair.TheyarenotRomeoandJulietofourBollywoodvarietywhoconverttheirfirstloveaffairinto amarriage. Now we have the concept of dating gaining currency in which a youngman getsengagedtohisgirlfriendonlywhenhehasfullyunderstoodherandthesameisthecasewithyounggirlswhonowfeelmoreconfidenttospeaktheirmindinmatrimonialmatters.Duringtheircourtship,theygetenoughopportunitytostudyeachotherandcaneasilybreakofftherelationshipifeithersideisnotfoundtobeasexpected.



Lovemarriagemay have its defects as well, but wemust admit that it has come to stay. Todayeducationalfacilitieshavespreadandareeasilyandequallyavailabletogirls,too.Besides,therearegreateremploymentopportunitiesforgirlsthaninthepast.Thesetogetherensurethatthereismoreintermingling ofmembers of the opposite sex and the parental influence is diminishing. Therefore,boysandgirlsaregettingmorefreeinthechoiceoftheirspouses.Inthesecircumstances, itwouldbebetterfortheelderstotakeiteasyandnottocomeinthewayoftheirchildren'shappiness.Yes,of course, they can still play the role of marriage counsellers than that of matchmakers. Youngpeople,ontheirpart,woulddowellgenerallytorespectthewishesoftheirelderswhiledecidingtogosteadywiththeirboyorgirlfriend.

Love is themain factor thatbinds two individuals.Saintsandpoetsalikehavepraised it.Thereforelovemarriageshavemorechancesof successbecause there ispremaritalunderstandingbetweenthewouldbe couples.More often, unpleasant consequences arise onlywhen love is obstructed orthe period of courtship is very short. If love is given way to and the latter is taken care of, lovemarriagessucceedandnothingelse.

InFavourOfArrangedMarriages:

Themuchtalkedofunderstandinginlovemarriagesisnotsoeasytohavewhenthetwomeetforthefirst time because love takes place at first sight and not after due deliberation. Moreover, lovemarriagesmainlyresultindivorceorarethecauseofquarrelswithparentsandthusunpleasantnessin relationships. As against them, arrangedmarriages are based onmore solid foundations. Here,experienced people have theirway and they naturally choose a partnerwho is sure to provemorefaithful,devoted,matureandwithpredictable.

Parents aremore rational,mature and experienced to deal with suchmatters and they are alwayscapableofselectingsuitable lifepartners for theirchildren.Lovesbeingblind,youngpeopleusuallydo not give a thought to the suitability and compability of their love. They generally lack soundjudgementandarecarriedawaybypassion.

Inarrangedmarriages,boysandgirlsareweighedintheirtotality.Theirfamilybackground,character,temperament,compability,allaretakenintoconsideration,formarriageissupposedtobeaunionoftwo families and not just two individuals. Naturally, girls coming from families which cherishharmonious relationships are more likely to make better wives than those coming from brokenhomes.Thelattermayhavetheirownpsychologicalproblems.

AllthisnewfoundloveforlovemarriagesisbecauseoftheinfluenceofWesternfilmsandcultureonour life.Whether loveorarrangedone,marriage isagambleeitherway.Evenmuchtrumpeted love



IsScienceacurseoraboon?

marriageshavebeenseentobefounderingontherockofreality.Hadn'tourfathers,grandfathersandtheir forefathersallenjoyedarrangedmarriages?Isourcultureorsocietyanytheworsefor it?Ifwecompareboth loveandarrangedmarriageswe find that chancesof success in the latter aremuchmore for they are finalized after due consideration of various aspects of a happy and successfulmarriedlife.

Conclusion:Whatisimportantinmarriageislove,whetheritdevelopsbeforeorafterthemarriage.

ScienceIsaCurse:

Scientific inventions in the field of military technology and hardware have brought about massdestruction.Previously, only armieswould fight on the front and even unarmed or sleeping soldierswere not killed, not to speak of civilians. But today, chemical, biological and nuclearweapons, asalsomissiles and aircrafts, have extended the area of conflict right into the heart of the opposingcountries. The entire industrial civilization infrastructure can destroyed in a fraction of a second.Remember thesavageryofWorldWar IIwhenHiroshimaandNagasakiwerecompletelywipedout,its citizensphysicallymaimedandmentally deformed?Also rememberwhat happened inVietnam,IraqandAfghanistan?

Can we ever forget the avoidable destruction of human lives caused by leakage in the ChernobylnuclearplantintheformerUSSRandbymethylisocynate(MIC)gasleakageinBhopal(India)afewyearsback?Aren'tthousandsofpeopledyinginroad,railandairaccidentstoday,mostlybecauseofhumanfailureinanticipatingdisastersordeliberatesabotagebyterrorists?

Those who regard science as a boon would say the industrialization and automation have madeproductiononamassscalepossibleand lessstrenuous,but they fail to realize that ithascreatedlargescaleunemployment.Besides,theimmigrationofruralworkerstowardsindustrialcentersinthecitieshasadverselyaffectedourjointfamilysystem,nottospeakofthepsychologicalproblemsanddiseasesithasspawnedinthecitybasedvillageworkerswhoareuprootedfromtheirmoorings.

Man in his quest for socalled science aided advancement and urbanization has destroyed hugejungle tracts thuscausingharm toecologicalbalance.Toxicgasesandbiologicallynondegradablewastematerial from factoriesarecausingair andwaterpollution,blaring loudspeakerscreatenoisepollution so much so that even out Supreme Court have to step in to order closure / shifting offactories in and around Delhi and to fix permissible decibel limit for fire crackers during Dipawali



celebrations.

Grantedthatsciencehasenabledusto fightdiseasesmoreeffectivelyand leadamorehealthy lifebutmoreandmore deadly diseases, unknown to our forefathers, are affecting us today.Moreoversideeffects of several medicines are more dangerous than the cure, and wrong medication /diagnosis may render us permanently incapacitated. The recent report that Dolly, the artificiallycreatedsheepissufferingfromT.B.,isaneyeopenerforthedefendersofscience.

Today cheap, easy and mechanical transport, scooters, cars, buses, trains and aeroplanes, hasreduceddistancesforusbutthepollutionitcausescannotbeoverlooked.Besides,ourdependenceonthemhasmadeuslame.Notonlythis,otherluxuriesandcomfortsofmodernsciencehavemadeussosoftthatwedonotwanttodophysicalworkandthussufferfromseveralailmentsandposturediseases.

Science has taught us to conquer the moon and stars but failed to ennoble man himself. Whilemachines have been humanized,man has beenmechanized and dehumanized. StarfordWingfieldhasrightlysaidinhismonumentalbook'HistoryofBritishCivilization',thetroublewithscienceisthatithas improvedthecircumstancesofmanbutnot themanhimself.Sowhat is thefunof improvingtheoutersurroundingsofmanifhehimselfisnotbettered?

ScienceIsaBoon:

Science is always a boon for mankind. Ever sinceman's appearance on the planet Earth he hasendeavouredtoconquertheforcesofnaturetoleadahappylife.Scienceandcivilizationareoneandthe same. A civilized nation is one which has achieved scientific progress. We call the Africannationsuncivilizedtheyarenotversedinthewaysofscience.

Fastmeansoftransportlikeaeroplanes,andtrainshavemadetheworldaglobalvillage.Telephone,TV and satellite communications, as also, Internet, have made it possible to get the latestinformationfromanywhereintheworldinnotime.Thishashelpedinthespreadofeducationthroughsatellites and TV networks. Satellite photography has enabled us to explore new areas of mineraldepositsandearlywarningsfromsatellitepicturesofanimpendingcyclonemakeitpossibletotakecountermeasures.

Science has given us newmedicines to fight diseases and increase the span of life. Radiologicalprogress,ECG,CTScan,MRI,etc.helpusindetectinganddiagnosingsevereailments.Transplantsurgeryandmicrosurgeryhaveshownhope for thehopeless.Now thehumangenomeproject hassucceededinmappinggenesofthehumanbodywhichholdsthehopeofidentifyingculpritgenesforman'sdiseasesandreplacingthem.



Fromcradletogravemanhavetastedthefruitsofscience:aCaesarianoperationbringshimintotheworld,anelectriccrematoriumdisposeshimoffandinbetweenhiselectric lightsandfans,washingmachines,fridgesandothergadgetsensurethathelivesacomfortablelife.

Whileourforefathershadtolivealifefullofhardships,we,becauseofscienceleadaluxuriousandcomfortable life.Even thepoorcanavailof fast transport,bioengineered food,avarietyofmodernentertainmentandthelike.Testtubebabieshavelongbecomeadreamcometruefortheissuelesscouples.Deadlydiseases likecancerandAIDSaregoing tobecompletelycontrolled in the future.DifferentvaccineshavealreadybeendevelopedforeradicationofHepatitisB,Smallpox,Polio,etc.

Agriculture and farming have been revolutionized by science. Big dams to channelise water anddistribute it to the desert have turned arid areas into greenery. Isotopes have helped improve thequality of seeds, which not only increased food production but also caused resistance to plantdisease.Crossbreedingofanimalsandpoultrytoohasincreasedyield.Biotechnologyhasmadeusselfsufficient,evensurplus,infoodproduction.

Oureducationsystemhasbeenrevolutionizedwiththehelpofscienceandtechnology.Gonearethedays of yorewhenman could rest contentedwith learning of only humanities teaching of scienceandtechnologyhasopenednewvistasbeforehim.Hehasmorejobopportunities.Notonlythis,heismoreandmoreincommandovertheforcesofnatureandwiththeaidofscienceandtechnologyheis using his resources for mankind. With great strides in paper and printing technology and theknowledgeexplosion in general, evenanaverageperson is able to get theneeded informationandcanexercisehisrightofchoiceinourdemocraticpolity.

Electronics and computers have changedour thinkingand living radically, computerizedmachineryturns out productsmuch faster and of better quality. Computers have replacedmanual labourwithbetterperformanceandelectronicshasmadeitpossibleforthehandicappedtoleadanormallife.

Itmightsoundironicbutitisafactthatbecauseofthermonuclearweaponswithcolossaldestructivepower in their armoury, the two superpowers, theUSand the erstwhileUSSR, could not go towarfearingMAD(MutualAssuredDestruction)andlivedwithententeduringthecoldwarera.Eventoday,post December 13 attack on our Parliament and not withstanding warning of using nuclear power,bothIndiaandPakistanaredesistingfromcarryingouttheirthreatbecauseofthenuclearpressure.

Conclusion:Sustainable development will allow us to benefit from science, yet help pass the planet to the nextgenerationinthesameshapethatweinheriteditin.



Seniority,NotMerit,MustBeTheCriterionForPromotions

InFavourOfSeniority:

Entryinajobcanbeonmerit,forthatisanobjectivecriterionforastart,butonceapersonjoinsanoffice, his actual experiencealonemust count in allowinghis promotions. This experienceenableshim to gain true knowledge of the practical working of his office. We cannot deny the fact thatseniority makes a man proportionately experienced while mere merit takes into consideration onlybookishknowledge.

Bymeritwegenerallymeansecuringhighmarksinwrittenexaminationsandintelligentlyconvincingtheexaminerortheinterviewer.Butthefactisthatevendufferscansecurehighmarksbycramminga few important answers and get through the interview by chance or recommendation. On thecontrary, only practical experience can give us the true knowledge of theory and practice of aparticularline.

Fromour own experience in Indiawe find that our old systemof hereditary practice of a particulartradeorprofessionenablesyoungboys togainmuchmoreexperience than today'snewly recruitedyoungmenwho are given higher position, salary and status. An ordinarymistry working under anengineerknowsmoreabouttheintricaciesofamachinethanthemeritoriousengineer.Itwouldbeinthe fitnessof things, forus, therefore, togivehigher ranksandsalaries to thehumblemistriesandmake new recruits work under them as apprentices, so as to bring about quick industrialdevelopment.

There being no absolute and infallible test for computing one's merit on the basis of an objectivecriterion, thesystemofpromotionbymeritallows forsubjectiveassessmentbysuperiorsand thusleads to favoritismandcorruption.On thecontrary,senioritybeingquiteobvious,promotionsbasedonitleavesnoscopeforcorruptionorfavoritism.

Wemustseetoitthatevenapeonafteranumberofyearsismadeajuniorofficer,thenaseniorandeventuallyheadof thedepartment,provided,ofcourse,hehasgainedsufficientknowledge throughexperience. This system operates in some advanced western countries quite successfully for itoffersincentivetooldhands.

InFavourOfMerit:

Promotionsinofficesandfactoriesshouldbebasedonmeritalone,for, itseniorityweretobegivenweightage inpromotingonetohigherposts ,everyTom,DickandHarrywhohasput inaspecifiedyearsofservicewouldstartclaimingpromotionsjustbecauseofhisdurationinservice.Canwegrant



AreReservationsInJobsJustified?

promotionstoapeonwhodustsbooksandcarriesfiles ina librarywithoutevencaringtoreadtheircontents?Can his senioritymake himmore able or capable? The fact is that only time applied inuseful purposes has educative value. In this respect, we have the shining example of GangadharYadav,agardenerinhisearly20'satIIM,Lucknow.Hesoinvolvedhimselfindoingsomeextraworkin the office there, that in the year 2000 a visiting Vice President of a reputed multinational gotimpressedwithhimandofferedhimthejobofSalesExecutive!

Thegreatestprogressinnationsoftheworldhasbeenachievedwherepromotionsandhonourshavegone to the meritorious alone. Here we have the most spectacular case of China and the formerSoviet Union. In China, they followed Confucian teachings since ancient times and recruited theirgovernmentofficersaccordinglyonthebasisofacompetition.TodayweknowwhereChinastands!In the case of the Soviet Union too, their greatest progress in science and technology wasmadepossiblebyencouragementgiven tomerit.That iswhy theycouldput firstSputnik in theorbitandbuildahugemilitaryindustrialcomplex.Anordinaryfactoryworkercouldhopetobecomeamanageroneday.

Granted thatpeoplewithseniorityaresometimesmoreknowledgeable thannew recruitswhocomeonthebasisofexaminationsandcompetitionsbuttheyareexceptions.Majorityofthemdonotmakeanyseriousattempttoknoworlearnmoreanddobetter.However,thefewwhoimprovethemselvesdogetanopportunityforpromotions,onthebasisofbothmeritandseniority.

The requirements of the present day make old people outdated, because of rapid technologicaladvancement in factoriesandnewworkculture.Therefore, ifmeritalone is taken intoconsiderationwhile promoting, the knowledge of the latest devices and design can be meaningfully tested in acandidatewhokeepshimselfabreastofthem.

We now witness worldwide skill upgrading, computerization, government downsizing, moremechanizationandautomation.Whatdoesitindicate?Onlythatwearemovingtowardsmeritocracya kind of governmentwhere all jobs is available on the basis ofmerit and academic qualificationsalone. In such a situation, seniority is bound to be left irrelevant and onlymerit as proved throughtechnicalandpracticalknowledgewillcount.

Conclusion:LoyaltyandGeniusbothneed tobe rewarded.Policyneeds toensure that thereareexceptions for thecareer paths of exceptional people, without making so many exceptions that it gets converted into arule.



No,TheyAren't:

Thevery ideaof providing reservations toany segmentof thepopulation is basedonnegatives. Itallowsforpreferentialtreatmentwithoutathoughtbeinggiventothecaliberoreligibilityaspect.Justabout any individual from the reserved castes scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backwardcastescangetaGovernmentjoboradmissioninaneducationalinstitutiononamuchlowereligibilitycriterion for percentage of marks and a higher age. This lowering of standard breeds inefficiency,discourages the really meritorious and negates the very concept of quality of opportunity. 49.5percentreservationmeansthathalftheadministrativemachineryhasinbuiltinefficiency,whileArticle335 of our Constitution lays down that reservation should be consistent with the maintenance ofefficiencyofadministration.

Byrejectingpeopleofhighercompetencefromgeneralcategoryandacceptingthereservedcategorywith lower competence, the reservation policy acts as a disincentive to the meritorious and morecapable.Thusinhibitshealthygrowthordevelopmentofanindividual.Suchbrilliantstudents,victimsof unfair favouritism of our reservation policy, get frustrated and leave for foreign countries whichfavourmerit alone. This braindrain adversely affects the intellectual capability of our country. Notonly this, the system of reservation, says Justice Chinnappa Reddy, has in many casesparadoxicallygeneratedaspiritofselfdenigrationeachcommunityofcastecompetingtobemorebackwardthanothers.

Private enterprises, being interested in efficiency alone, do not follow the retrograde policy ofreservation.Their sole criterionof selectingpeople ismerit andability todeliver thegoods.This iswhytheyaredoingextremelywell.But,oflate,demandsforintroducingreservationsinprivatesectorhasbeen raised insome influentialquarters.Should thiscomeabout,Godsavewhateverefficiencywestillhaveinatleastafewsegmentsofouradministrationandeconomy.

It is a shame that in this computer and space agewe, by institutionalizing our reservation policy,admitthatweareadecadentsocietybasedoncaste.Whatimagedoesitconveyintheinternationalfield?Can casteismbedoneawaywith by having caste based reservations?Shouldwenot followeconomiccriterioninsteadsothatonlyafewfamiliesdonotbenefitperpetuallybythisunfairpolicy?Thecriterionofcreamy layer ispatentlyhumbug, for it issoapplied thateven thosewithsufficientmeans and standing in society succeed in getting the benefit of reservation. All this breedsdiscontent and occasions social unrest. Therefore, the sooner we do away with reservations thebetterforthenation.

Reservationsweresupposedtobeaninterimarrangementfor10yearsasperourconstitutionsothatthelowcastepeoplecouldcomeupsocially.Butencouragedbyourshortsightedpoliticianswiththeirsights fixed on this sizeable votebank, its beneficiaries have formed it into a habit to claim



reservation as a matter of right. Instead of striving hard to excel, they seek the shortcut ofreservationsandthevestedpolitical interestsperpetuateit.ThisviciouscirclecanbebrokenbytheGovernment by having a firm cutoff year for reservations and spreading education among thedepressedclassesonaprioritybasis.Butcanwedosobyassigninglowprioritytoeducationwithamere4percentbudgetallocationforit?

Instead of facilitating spatial growth of education and development among the depressed classes,reservationshavespawnedanewelitistgroupamere5percentamongthem,whichhascorneredallthebenefitsmeantfor22.5percent.Thesameisgoingtobethefateofthemostbackwardsamongbackwardclasses.

A further reservation of 27 percent to the other backward classes has aggravated the employmentproblemand has formed caste animosities and hatred. This retrograde step is not going to do anygood to thenation. In thenameofsocial justice,an injusticeof theworst type isbeingperpetratedbecause of the accident of birth in a higher caste.Moreover, the argument that since the newreservedcategorieshavesufferedinjusticethroughcenturiesatthehandsofuppercastepeople,thelatter should atone for that, is beyond comprehension. How could a young boy or girl be heldresponsible and guilty for an alleged crime supposed to have been committed by his or herforefathers?Twowrongsdonotmakeoneright?

Theonlyhopeofthechildrenofordinaryfamiliesforabetterfutureisthrougheducationandopentoallcompetitiveexamination.Thishasbeenshatteredbytheadditional27percentjobquotaforotherBackward Class (BC) candidates following acceptance of theMandal Commission Report. That iswhy they resorted toagitationandevenselfimmolation,but tonoavail. Ithas further fracturedourcasteriddensociety.Theauthorof theMandalCommissionReporthimselfadmits that thesystemfollowedbytheCommissionincompilingthelistisunscientific.

It is reallydamaging to thenationasawhole that insteadof tacklingourpopulationproblemlargelydue to the illiterate, backward and superstitious people of backward classes, we give them thelollipop of reservations! In spite of theirwretchedness and poverty they producemore children andmakethelifeoftheseinnocentsmoremiserablethantheirs.Therefore,ifatallreservationsaretobegiventheymustbelinkedwithadoptionoffamilyplanningmethods.Thiswillprovetobeaneffectivedeterrentagainstpopulationexplosionandwillalsobenefittheseclassesthemselves.

Yes,TheyAre:

Theobnoxiouscastesystemmighthaveservedsomepurposewhen itoriginatedcenturiesagobutnowit isahindrancetooursocialprogress.Theclaimof theapologistsofcastesystemthatcastewaschangeableaccordingtomeritandcompetenceoftheindividualandwasnotstrictlyhereditaryis



disapprovedby thestoryofKarna in theMahabharatwho inspiteofbeingequal toorevenmore invalour,skill,warfareandcharity than theKshatriyaswasmade tosufferhumiliation forbeingaSutPutra(SonofaShudra)tillhisdeath.AgainwehavethestoryofEklavya,alowborn.Dronacharya,theteacherofArjun,thegreatarcheroftheepicMahabharat,demandedhisthumbasGurudakshina(Fee), even though he had refused to teach him archery fearing that he might surpass. Thuscenturies of oppression and untouchability cannot be undone in just a few years of honest andsincereefforts.Therefore,themakersofourConstitutionstipulatedreservationforscheduledcastesandtribesforaperiodoftenyearsbutithadtobeextendedagainandagainbecausetheycouldnotcomeup insuchashort time. It isonly fairand just to reservesomeseats for thesedeprivedandoppressed people, who could not enter even temples and educational institutions. The question ofany inefficiency creeping in or harmor injustice being done to others does not arise because one,theseclasses toomust fulfillcertainbasicminimumeducationalor technicalqualification,and, too,somestateslikeTamilNadu,AndhraPradeshandKarnatakahaveover50percentreservationsyettheirefficiencyissecondtonone.Again,nohueandcryofloweringefficiencyorstandardsisraisedwhen a son of a rich father gets admission in a technical or professional course in spite of lowermarks.Thenwhythesedoublestandards?

Our constitution laysdownequalityamongequalsandnotamongunequals.Through thepolicyofreservation, our depressed and backward class people are sought to be brought to the status ofequalitywithothers. It is reallyshameful foramoderncivilizedsociety likeours thatevenafter55years of independence, a scheduled caste barat party is not allowed to go through a Rajputdominated village near Agra, young lovers belonging to higher lower caste are hanged in villagepanchayatsinbroaddaylightwithoutawhimperofprotest!Hence,reservationisanaffirmativeactiontobringaboutsocioeconomicbettermentoftheseclassesandmust,therefore,continue.

Being a Welfare State, we owe it to the weaker sections to ensure their wellbeing throughgovernmental action.Their economic backwardness, poor state of education and social deprivationare all due to our society which even at this late hour should not prevent their upliftment. It isbecauseofthisoppressive,humiliatingandtorturouscastesystemandresultantdeprivationthathasled thousands of scheduled castes people (From Dr. Ambedkar to Ramraj now Uditraj) to getconverted enmasse into other religions. Resort to such conversions as a means of escape fromcastebasedoppressionisashameontheentiresociety.

IftheBrahminscanworkaspujarisandactasagentsofGodforallauspiciousoccasionslikebirths,marriages,deaths, etc. as a birthright,why should theHindu society not view some reservation forbackwardclasspeoplewithcharityandgenerosity.

Even now the total reservation is only 49.5 percent for about 76.5 per cent of the populationwhileover 50per cent seats are available for about 23.5 per cent candidatesof higher castes.Besides,



WhatformofDemocracyisbetterparliamentaryorpresidential?

truesocial justicecancomewithapriceandreservationsare theprices thatareprivilegedclassesshouldbewillingtopaysothattheaccidentofbirthisnomoreusedagainsttheirlowbornbrethren.

MahatmaGandhioncesaid,Swarajformemeansfreedomforthemeanestforourcountrymen.Iamnot interested in freeing Indiamerely from theEnglishyoke. Iambentupon freeing India fromanyyokewhatsoever.ItgoestoprovethatFatheroftheNationwouldensureindividualfreedomforoneandall.Butcansuchfreedombepossiblefortheexploitedandoppressedweakersections?

The depressed and backward class people cannot fare well in an open competition because ofcenturies of suppression and deprivation, and, hence, they cannot develop themselves. In thismodern age of knowledge explosion through mass media, they may get alienated from the mainstream of our society. This can generate dangerous consequences for the nation as a whole.Therefore,toavoidsuchaneventuality,weshouldacceptourdowntroddenbrethrenwithanopenarmandgivethemahelpinghandinrealizingtheirpotential.Thiswayonlywecanachieveourcommondestiny,fordidn'tourancientseersproclaimedSarveBhawantuSukhinahmaKashchidduhkhbhagbhavet.(Letallbehappy,letnoonebemiserable).

Conclusion:Inequalitieswillalwaysexist.Societywillalwaystrytosetright theseinequalities insomeways.Policycheckshereshouldbetoseeifthesolutionisworkinginthelongtermornot.

Parliamentary:

IndiaadoptedtheParliamentaryformofdemocracyaftergettingIndependencein1947becauseIndiahadbeenfamiliarwithitsworkingduringthedaysoftheBritishrule.Sincethen13generalelectionshavebeenheldtotheLokSabhaonthebasisofuniversaladult franchise,andbarringafewviolentincidentsduring thepolls, therehasbeenpeaceful transitionof authority fromonepolitical party tothe other. Moreover, while in a parliamentary democracy, the Executive is responsible to thelegislatureandtherefore,theoppositionalwayskeepsitalert.Foritalwayslivesintheshadowofacomingdefeat.AsLaskipointsout,inaPresidentialdemocracythePresidentdoesnothavetofearanyoppositionbecausehe isnot responsible to the legislature. It canmakehimautocratic.HenceEsmeincallsthesystemautocratic,irresponsibleanddangerous.So,woulditbeadvisableforustohandover thedestinyofourvastcountrywithabundantresourcesandpopulation to thewhimsandcapricesofadictatorialPresident?

Sincethemajoritypartyoramajoritycoalitionofseveralpartiescomestopower inaParliamentary



democracy, there is bound to be cooperation and harmony between the Executive and theLegislature.Itensureseasyimplementationofplansandpoliciesoftherulingpartyforitcanhaveitsownway,nomatterwhattheoppositionpartiesintheLokSabhasay.InthePresidentialform,onthecontrary, thesystemof separationofpowersbetween theExecutiveandLegislatureoften leads toconflict:moreso,ifthesetwowingsofthegovernmentarecontrolledbydifferentparties.Thisleadstodelay,confusionandprocrastination.Therefore, it isadvisableforustocontinuewiththepresentsystemwhichhasunityofresponsibility,directionandpower.

It is alwayspossible to removea failedPrimeMinister and replacehimwithanewcompetentandacceptable individualasper thewishesof thepeople.Thishappened in theUnitedKingdomduringWorld War II when Chamberlain proved to be a timid Prime Minister and Churchill replaced himwithoutanycommutationtakingplace.ButaPresidentcannotbethusremovedbeforetheexpiryofhis tenure except by an extremely difficult process of Impeachment. Thus this system being rigiddoes not mould itself easily to abusing circumstances. Therefore, there is no point in having aPresidentialdemocracywhereevenapersonanongratahastobetoleratedfortheremainingtenureofhisoffice.

BrycemaintainsthattheParliamentaryformofGovernmentsecuresswiftnessindecisionandvigorin action because cabinet can easily get the measures it deems essential passed through theLegislature. In the Presidential form, inordinate delay is caused in arriving at decisions, for theLegislatureistobeconvincedofmajorpolicydecisions.

Powercorrupts,AbsolutepowercorruptsabsolutelysaysLordActon.Thisappliestothepositionofa President vested with the entire administration and absolute power who might on his own takedrasticactionathomeandinforeignpolicyandbringaboutgreatsufferingtothepeople.Weshouldtherefore, maintain the status quo of Parliamentary Government, notwithstanding its shortcomingsandfaults,whichhasseveralheadstosolvenationalproblemsintheformofthecabinet.

Parliamentarydemocracysuitsusbecauseherepersons fit tobemembersof theExecutivemakeknowntheirsagacity,politicalacumen,graspandcommonsense,andthePrimeministerwillalwaysbe one who has undergone a long and strenuous period of political apprenticeship. This state ofaffairsdoesnotobtaininaPresidentialdemocracyintheUnitedStatesanypersonwithoutadequatepoliticalexperiencecanhopetobecomethePresident.Heveryoftencomesfromobscurityandgoesintoobscurityagainafterhistermofofficeisoverandheis'aleapinthedark.'

If the ruling party fails to deliver and carry the majority with it in a Parliamentary democracy, theoppositionmore thanmerely exposing its drawbacks, loopholes and blunders, tries to step into hisshoeswithoutnecessarilyhaving to force theritualofa freshelection.A fixed tenureofoffice foraPresidentdoesnotmakethispossibleinaPresidentialdemocracy.



IndiahasbeenthemoststablenationofAfroAsia.Themain factorcontributing toourstabilityhasbeentheholdingofperiodicgeneralelections.Governmentseekstocorrespondtothedesiresoftheelectorate.MembersoftheLegislaturewhorepresentprevailingtendenciesandopinionofthenationapprisethecabinetofthem.Cabinetortherulingpartycanignoreorbrushasidethemonlyatitsownperil.Presidentialdemocracy,ontheotherhand,hasnothingmuchtocareforashiftinpublicopinionbecause the fixed term of office of the President makes him secure in office for the stipulatednumberofyears.Thismaymakehimunresponsivetothewishesofthepeopleandruleasadictator.

Presidential:

The time has come for us to switch over to the government of experts, as the Presidentialgovernment is called instead of the government of amateurs or theParliamentary democracy. ThePresidentisauthorizedtoappointthemembersofhiscabinetirrespectiveofpartyaffiliation.Hecaneven obtain the services of nonparty experts. A Prime Minister, on the other hand, is bound toappointonlymembersofhispartyorofpartiessupportinghim.Andhehastotakeintoconsiderationtheir caste, region, religion and their following, notwithstanding their otherwise unsuitability for thepost. In India, we have had, in the past and have even today, several persons as ministers notbecauseoftheirintrinsicqualitybutduetoparochialconsiderations.

Presidentialsystemensures that thePresidenthasanational image.Hedoesnotbelong to thisorthatgrouporfactionintheLegislature.Sinceheiselectedforafixedtermofoffice,stabilityisinbuiltin this form of government because he is not dependant on the vagaries of the Legislature. InParliamentaryGovernment,on theotherhand, thePrimeMinisterhas topleasebothhispartymenand the opposition to continue in office. The instability of this form of government becomesmoreobviouswhenasinglepartydoesnotholdamajorityintheLegislatureandacoalitiongovernmentisformed,aswasthecaseinFrancepriortotheinaugurationofthe5threpublic,andinIndiaduring theJanataParty rule (1977 80),National FrontGovernments in 198991 and in 199698. TheBJP ledcoalition government had to resign in just 13 days and 13 months respectively and the NDAGovernmenthadtoputupwiththetantrumsofthisorthatcoalitionpartner.

In a Presidential democracy, the Legislature is less likely to be dominated by party spirit and theindividual members can vote independently on the issues presented to them, as the fate of thegovernmentdoesnotdependonthem.ThisphenomenonissomuchinevidenceintheclassiccaseofUnitedStatesthatthetwomainpartiestheRepublicanandtheDemocraticarecalled 'samewinein different bottles'. Contrary to this the Parliamentary system intensifies the spirit of party andkeeps italwaysontheboilsaysLordBryce.Even if thereareno important issuesofpolicybeforethenation,therearealwaystheofficestobefought,foronepartyholdsthem,theotherdesiresthemand the conflict is unending for immediately after defeat, the beaten party begins its campaign to



dislodge the victors.While theopposition criticizesGovernmentpolicy regardlessof itsmerits, theruling party avoids putting unpopular measure, however important they may be, and resorts topopulismignoringtheneedofthenation.Don'twewitnessthishappeninghereinIndia?Should,then,westillcontinuewiththisirresponsiblestateofaffairs?

The fusionof executiveand legislative functions inaparliamentarydemocracy likeourshasmadethecabinetusurpthefunctionsofparliament,fortheUnionLegislatureisnowinsessionforabout3monthsinoneyearwhileduringPt.JawaharlalNehru'stimeitusedtobeinsessionformorethan4months.Moreover,rulebyordinancetendstobypasstheauthorityofParliament.InthePresidentialsystem,ontheotherhand,thereisseparationoftheExecutiveandtheLegislature.Hence,nowingcanusurpthepowersoftheother.Thisensuresthatnolegislationisenactedinhasteorwithout,indepthdeliberation.

In a presidential democracy, a continuous and consistent homeand foreign policy can be followedbecause the chief executive enjoys security of tenure and cannot be easily removed. This fact isestablishedbytheRooseveltianerainUSA.Contrarytothis, inaparliamentarydemocracy,thereisno continuity or consistency of policies because of instability of Government. A new cabinetmayevenreversethepolicyfollowedbyitspredecessor.

Inapresidentialsystem,bureaucraticappointmentsaremadebythepresident,andinsomecases,withtheapprovalofthelegislature.Theyareresponsiblefortheiractsofomissionandcommission.In the Parliamentary Government, on the other hand, there is a fixed tenure for bureaucrats whothriveunder thecloakofministerial responsibility. In India,wewitnessanoverbureaucratizationoftheentireadministration,whichcausesredtapeandavoidabledelay.Bureaucracyevenhijacks thewellmeantpoliciesofthegovernment.

With a multiplicity of political parties spawned due to personality clash of egoistic leaders andhelplessnessofeven anti defection law, floorcrossing and horsetrading have become the norm inour parliamentary practices. The politicianbureaucratbusinessmancriminal nexus has debased theparliamentaryinstitution,interferedwiththejudiciary,createdlawandorderproblemsandencouragedterrorismandseparationonawiderscale.Evenviolence insidethe legislaturehasbought themintodisrepute.Insteadofbeingagovernmentbydiscussion,parliamentarydemocracyhasdescendedtothelowlevelofpandemoniumandbedlaminthehousesofthelegislature.

Low calibre, casteist and communal elements, able to exploit the illiterate and poor masses aconsiderable vote bank, get elected to the legislatures. Thus with their immense bargaining powertheyareabletogetministerialberths?Theresult?JumbocabinetsunmanageableinStateslikeU.Pand Bihar whereministers have practically no work to do in some cases but are a burden on theExchequer.Thuswearecaughtinaviciouscircleofallrounddeterioration.Itis,therefore,hightime



2012|LegalNotice()|Terms()

thatweabandon theParliamentary systemandadopt thePresidential democracywhereministerialpostsneednotbegiven toelected representatives, thecandidate ismore important than the partyand,hence,corruption,inefficiency,vestedinterestsandparalyzinginterferencefrompoliticianscanbeeasilyremoved.

Conclusion:Theformofgovernmentisspecifictoaculturalandsocialcontext.Aspectsthataidefficientgovernmentneedtobereinforced,irrespectiveoftheformofgovernment.

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