Government jobs

This refers to ‘Amid quota battle, govts yet to fill 28 lakh jobs’ (January 11). The Centre seems firm about providing 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections in the general category for which it is ready to even face legal battles in court. The report says 28 lakh jobs in various government departments across the nation are vacant. This implies that both the Central and State governments have been reluctant to fill the vacancies, citing financial burden and as a measure of cost-cutting. The purpose of providing reservation is to uplift people who are socially and economically weak.

Reservation is there to brighten the prospects for the job-seekers, but the fact is jobs that have already been created have been lying vacant for years even in important departments like health, education, judicial and railways. Though the government need not create jobs merely for the sake of providing employment to the people, it is obliged to fill the existing vacancies, especially in those departments that are providing essential services to the public.

Cuddalore, TN

It refers to ‘One too many routes to GST evasion’ (January 11). On the one side the government and the GST Council are trying to reduce tax slab rates on maximum number of products and, towards this, GST exemption cap has been increased to ₹40 lakh for MSMEs to provide them much-needed relief. And, on another side, if GST evasion is not addressed, then it defies the whole purpose of introducing this big tax reform, intended to widen the tax net and reduce tax evasion. That as much as ₹38,896 crore worth GST was evaded, which is roughly 5.5 per cent of monthly GST collection on month-on-month basis, is worrisome. Rajesh Jindal and Adesh Jain, who were involved in running bogus companies and seeking fake claims on input tax credit, are not isolated cases. It’s not that the government is not aware of the loopholes, it’s about bridging them at the earliest.

Noida

Apropos the news report ‘Verma’s sacking shows that the PM is scared of probe’ (January 11)’, it is strange that the Congress party should blame the prime minister for transferring the CBI Director, Alok Verma, even when the decision was taken by the high-powered panel, in which, senior Supreme Court judge Justice AK Sikri is a member. This amounts to insulting the Supreme Court by implying that the judge did not apply his mind to the issue and yielded to PM’s pressure. Besides, it is amusing that the party welcomed the apex court’s earlier verdict asking the panel to decide the fate of Verma, but is now questioning the wisdom of the panel just because the decision does not meet its expectations. Also, the Congress party member on the panel had objected to Verma’s appointment as CBI Director earlier, but has now objected to his transfer.

Pune

The removal of Alok Verma as Director CBI, even if the government's allegation of corruption against him is true, would appear a clear-cut political move against him for not toeing its line. With the end of his tenure coming in just a few days, it should have desisted from any move against him. The government could have initiated action against him even after retirement. This action by the Centre is going to be a sure weapon for the opposition parties.

Kottayam

The GST Council’s decision to raise the threshold limit for exemption from registration and payment of GST to ₹40 lakh and the turnover limit for eligibility to enter the composition scheme to ₹1.5 crore is welcome, though it may be seen as a move to garner votes from small businessmen in the 2019 general elections. The relief, though, should apply uniformly across the nation. As high inflation still persists, it is the right time that the income tax exemption limit of ₹2.5 lakh (and ₹3 lakh for senior citizens) is raised.

New Delhi

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