Whispers Forum

Questions regarding a raid by the enforcement team of a Discom and as to whether their actions, assessments were correct or incorrect were raised. The CIC noted that numerous second appeals/complaints are coming up for hearing related to DISCOMS where the it was earlier held that DISCOMS are Public Authority within the scope and meaning of RTI Act. The operation of the said order of CIC has been stayed on an appeal filed by the DISCOM through an interim injunction passed in the year 2007. The CIC noted with concern that matter is pending before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court since 2007, i.e. pending from 17 years, which is crossing almost a generation, which is of 25 years as given in The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. In the meantime, general public at large are facing numerous issues pertaining to public services provided by DISCOMS. In order to resolve such issues of general public, the Respondent Public Authority should approach the Apex Court for vacation of stay of order. The CIC further observed that in case of DISCOMS, large infrastructure of network of electricity lines was created using powers under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 for “Public Purpose”. Therefore, the urgency to get the interim injunction vacated needs no further emphasis. The PIO was directed to place a copy of this order before the Competent Authority for appropriate action in the matter.
Comments
Judicial delay are a matter of concern as noted by the CIC, more so when the matter to be decided is relatively simple. The advisory by the CIC to the Secretary / Head of the Department would hopefully expedite the matter. With privatization of basic amenities governing life and living like electricity supply, education, healthcare etc, some element of accountability has to be built in failing which the common man would suffer.
Citation: Rameshwar Dayal Gaud v. Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, CIC/DERCM/A/2023/148403; Date of Decision: 05.09.2024
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

Modi launches Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme I remember such a scheme has been operated/ used in Gujarat. Kutch region of Gujarat always faced scarcity of water. Daily one train full of water, courtesy Indian Railways, was provided to this region. The then in-charge of the body, which was supposed to provide/ arrange water for this region, invited young IIM Ahmedabad graduates/ final year students and sought their opinion/ suggestions to solve this problem. Gujarat Government under the then Chief Minister Narendra Bhai Modi is known for having a receptive mind for good suggestions. They implemented the suggestions provided by the young IIM Ahmedabad graduates/ students. This resulted in no scarcity of water in Kutch region and the daily train with water coming to that region was stopped as it was no longer needed.
Pradeep

There is a crying need for psychological profiling for certain services. Officers in these services have a history of increasing unnecessary litigation by using pen portraits in APARs to smartly destroy the careers of their subordinate officers. Despite the fact that pen portraits are supposed not to be used for deputations, promotions, etc, DPCs keep using them in these areas and subordinate officers have to go to CAT for getting justice. Officers know of this lacuna and keep using it to settle personal scores.
Vijay Kumar