This refers to ‘A murder and a wake-up call’ by Rasheeda Bhagat (September 12). Murder is most foul, whoever the victim, and should be investigated soon so that the guilty are punished. However, it is unfair to blame the powers-that-be or anyone else for the crime even before the investigation commences.
HP Murali
Bengaluru
Content in context
Lately, negative news is being increasingly sensationalised on all fronts. Sometimes this crosses boundaries and hinders breakthroughs in official investigations. While this cannot be officially controlled or regulated in an open democracy like ours, there is need to reduce further damage to the social equilibrium.
When the environment is charged with suspicion and mutual hatred, the goverment in power has to be more cautious to be seen as impartial and secular. It is in this context that though Prime Minister Modi’s assertion, “toilets first, temples can wait”, was accepted, forcing all students to listen to this speech didn’t get uniform acceptance across geographies. In such situations, not only the content, but the context too become relevant.
MG Warrier
Mumbai
Improving I-T forms
It would be convenient if all the information about an assessee collected by the I-T department is made available in Form 26AS and automatically uploaded in the I-T’s pre-filled” forms at the time of e-filing, with the option to edit if necessary.
If the previous year’s return is made available in the pre-filled form with the changes and the facility to edit and correct, it would be useful. This would help the assessee fill correct figures. Such a facility would reduce the burden of the I-T department to issue even scrutiny notices.
Mahesh Kumar
New Delhi
Support children
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 has guidelines to deal with each case. But a lot of cases are settled quietly and that is extremely dangerous. Children either don’t report the cases, or the cases are hushed up even if they do report them. The police should not be the only agency that deals with children who have been abused. There should be a team of specialised child psychiatrists and other childcare professionals who can ensure continued support to the child.
When a case of child abuse is reported, hardly any support is offered to the child and the family to get their lives back on track. When children take the extremely difficult step of reporting abuse we need to ensure they are properly supported and get the help they need when they are brave enough to give evidence in court. We need laws prescribing stringent punishment to perpetrators of crimes against children.
Vinod C Dixit
Ahmedabad
Back to black
This refers to reports on black money in India. Acceptance of an amount above ₹2 lakh in cash in aggregate from a person in a day, or in respect of a single transaction, or in respect of transactions relating to one event or occasion from a person is strictly prohibited by law. Violation of this provision invites a penalty on the recipient equal to the amount received. Receipt/payment in all these cases is mandated only through normal banking channels. The primary objective is to curtail black money.
In spite of this, large amounts continued to be paid/accepted in cash particularly in educational institutions, hospitals, property deals, etc. Educational institutions, in particular, continue to accept huge amounts beyond permissible limits under labels such as ‘donation’ or ‘college development fund’. No receipts are issued, irrespective of the amount accepted.
These are the major channels of generation, flow and circulation of black money. In some instances, even white money becomes black through these processes. It is beyond one’s comprehension as to why the authorities concerned turn a blind eye toward gross financial irregularities.
N Vijayagopalan
Thiruvananthapuram
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