Whispers Forum

Whisper in the corridors Forum article by Shri Vijay Kumar is a true prediction in store for the country where there will be a competition by different religious and caste groups to increase their population to get proportionate political and administrative benefits and again merit will become a casualty. What is surprising is the suicidal approach of Congress perhaps due influence of leftist in its ranks when they know that OBC mandal politics was brought by Mr V P SINGH to finish Congress vote banks and therefore these groups rallied behind different state wise OBC leaders finishing Congress countrywide monopoly. Again OBC votes will tilt towards Regional OBC parties/leaders damaging Congress more whereas BJP vote share will remain intact ensuring their almost certain victory 2024 but may also deprive the Nation of a good effective opposition in parliament.
S C Saboo

Certified copies of the bills raised by the counsels in a petition before the High Court, Name and designation of the officials who approved the counsel fees and related file notings were sought. The respondent bank denied the information on the ground of sub-judice. The CIC observed that more than two years have elapsed and information sought was not provided to the appellant. The then CPIO and present CPIO were show caused as to why penalty under section 20 (1) of the RTI Act may not be imposed upon each of them for not providing the information. In spite of the orders of the CIC dated 25.05.2022 and 13.09.2022, the respondent had failed to provide the information as directed. It was informed that the bank had challenged the order dated 13.09.2022 of the CIC. The CIC mention that challenging the order may not be legal ground to circumvent the orders of the Commission. The CIC imposed a penalty of Rs. 10,000- (Rupees Ten Thousand) on Shri Anand Joshi, the CPIO.
Comments Just because the case is sub-judice, information cannot be denied to an applicant.
Citation: Durgesh Kuwar v. Punjab & Sind Bank, CIC/PASBK/A/2019/160744; 05.09.2023
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

These days, there is a lot of talk about the caste census. Jiski Jitni Bhagedari, Uski Utni Hissedari is the new mantra sought to be given by "leaders" of various hues across the political spectrum. It is a most dangerous principle. It will lead to different religious, caste or tribal groups trying to increase their population to either keep up their ratio relative to other religious, caste or tribal groups or to gain an advantage over other groups. In this competitive scenario, the country will have to suffer population explosion afresh. As it is, the country is suffering from the ills of overpopulation. With this new population explosion in the making, all efforts at development will be drowned in another sea of people.
Vijay Kumar