Mailbag

Ban Smoking

Sir,

Kindly refer to the news published in Daily Excelsior dated 13th of October, 1999 that Hon'ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana has banned smoking in public places. It is a welcome decision. Passive smoking is no less dangerous than active smoking. This smoke from tobacco contains even more nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide than that inhaled by the smoker. In J&K also we find so many people publically puffing away the joys of their families and the people around. Through this letter I want to draw the attention of the J&K Government towards this problem as this problem is more dangerous than other states as the people here smoke frequently without any hesitation at every place and every corner of our state. The people even do not hesitate to smoke at religious places which is very bad. They smoke in public places, buses, metadors without caring for others. They say that ''we are smoking after spending money from our pockets'', so no body have any right to ask us for not smoking.''

It is therefore, requested to the State Government to ban smoking in public places in J&K State so that various diseases which spread with the smoking are avoided.

Yours etc....
Ateeq Khushboo
Class XI B
KV No. 1, Udhampur

Reforming tax structure

Sir,

Reforms in excise-duty structure are necessary in interest of both the exchequer and tax payers. System of imposing excise-duty on basis of Maximum-Retail-Price (MRP) is certainly a nice feature to check various malpractices adopted by manufacturers to befool consumers and/or the exchequer. System of imposing excise-duty on basis of MRP should be extended to maximum possible commodities of consumers' use. For instance, gimmick 'exchange-schemes' for electrical/electronics items, or forcing undesired items as 'free' gifts with purchased items can very well be checked by imposing excise-duty on basis of MRP.

In the last Union Budget for the year 1999-2000, a welcome but incomplete step to rationalise excise duty structure in 3 publicised slabs of 8, 16 and 24 percents was taken. But practically commodities having higher rates of 30, 32 and 40 percents were taxed as previously by having special additional excise duty of 6, 8 and 16 percents respectively over and above the much-publicised highest slab of 24 percent! It will be better if the tariff structure is further simplified in 5 actual slabs of 8,16,24,32 and 40 percents thereby abolishing at least one more slab of 30 (24+6) percent from existing system. For automatic revenue increase with regular trend of price-rise without any budgetary fluctuations, system of imposing ad-velorum excise duty on all commodities (except when it may not be feasible) may be adopted.

To plug loopholes, categories of classification of commodities should be reduced. For example perfumed hair oil which was rightly taxed under cosmetics before 1977, was wrongly delinked to have the lowest slab of now 8 percent while cosmetics are presently taxed at 30 (24+6)%. It is wrong to harm exchequer in such an ugly manner only due to personal likings of the deciding ministers!

Union Finance Ministry must offer best proposals to state governments so that states may agree for replacement of local levies like Sales Tax etc. by increased excise duty for better tax compliance to increase revenue earnings. It will then be possible to print net payable price inclusive of all taxes (even Sales Tax) on commodities in consumers' larger interests.

Yours etc....
Subhash Chandra Agrawal,
1775, Kucha Lattushah,
Dariba, Delhi- 110006.

PSC and veternarians

Sir,

It is a matter of great displeasure that Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPCC) being considered as an impartial authority is involving itself in malpractices and playing in the hands of touts. PSC advertised the posts for veterinary Assistant surgeons in the month of Dec- 1998 under adv-No. 25 PSC of 1998 date 30-12-1998 and the total no. of forms received were less as happened in the previous advertisements for the same post in various years. Again the JKPSC readvertised same post in the month of July 1999 by giving the Overt reason that 'response was poor' but covertly some influential candidates with the PSC did this for their selfishness as some of the candidates had not yet completed their internship and they had applied for the same post.

There is a rule that provisional degree certificate of candidate is not issued by concerned institute till internship completed. How it can be possible that their candidature is considered by PSC without their requisite certificates.

On the other side Government is in need of around 350 veterinarians in the state and is not adjusting the candidates even on adhoc-basis. Reason given by Government is PSC will shortly sent list of candidates.

It costs around Rs 6 lakhs for a Government, either central or state to train a veterinarian and out put the society gets is nil.

Hence it is requested to chairman PSC to intervene in this matter and exclude candidates of readvertised notice and immediately send list of previously advertised candidates after conducting interview to A H deptts and A H Deptt is requested to issue orders immediately without any further delay. If the problem is not solved then justice will be sought from honourable of High Court.

Yours etc...
Dr Shabir & Other
aggrieved candidates
Jammu.