Bareword "INPUT" not allowed while "strict subs"

[Anish Kumar K.]

Hi

I open a file and pass the file handle to the sub routine. I have used "Use 
Strict"
I am getting the error in the filehandle. Why is this caused.. Is it because I 
need to pass any other information with this

sub processTextMails
{
  while(<INPUT>)
  {
       $returnMessage=$returnMessage.$_;
  }
  close(INPUT);
  return $returnMessage;
}

Other routine

open (INPUT , "a.txt") II die "Cannot open this file";
$message = &processTextMails(INPUT); = Error in this line

Bareword "INPUT" not allowed while "strict subs" in use at 


Thanks
Anish