Postal stamps must honour icons of Indian cinema

Even though postal guidelines prohibit the issue of commemorative stamps in honour of personalities before 10 years of their passing (except heads of nations), some Union Ministers have misused their positions to issue such stamps in honour of their deceased family members much before the expiry of the stipulated period.

Take for example, the stamps issued in the memory of Rajesh Pilot and Murasoli Maran. This matter must be probed and the guilty punished by passing a stringent law.

Also, postal-guidelines should be modified so that those who have received prestigious national awards such as the Bharat Ratna, the Paramvir Chakra and the Dadasaheb Phalke award may be honoured through the issue of postal-stamps, without taking into consideration the 10 year limit. The Department of Posts has already issued a beautiful series of postage stamps on India's legendary heroines. It is time a similar series be issued to honour the country's renowned actors including Pran Krishan Sikand who died on July 12.