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Whispers Forum

Debates, reader views and sharp takes on the issues shaping governance — a new conversation every week, archived by date.

0 posts 0 months Latest: 31 Dec 2019
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December 2019 29 posts · page 1 of 3

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Tuesday, 31 December 2019
Forum

Whispers Forum — 31 Dec 2019

DEBATE(1)
If you want to see another Indira Gandhi then Priyanka Gandhi will make an effective PM.
Ruchi Garg
(DEBATE)
1. Priyanka Gandhi
2. Mamta Banerjee
3. Arvind Kejriwal
Amit Pande
Do not engage in wild speculations !
What should we infer when you say that 2024 will be the last general elections for BJP. You are saying by this statement that BJP will wind up. What you probably wanted to say is that they will lose power because of the recent trends. A result in Jharkand is purely on local issues and it does not reflect national opinion. Similarly in Maharashtra, BJP should have been in power but for the hunger of a power of a particular party which resulted in all political decency and scruples thrown to the winds. So your argument is based on talks between anti BJP people like JNU, Jamia, AMU, Lutyens Delhi who are all a minuscule of the country's electorate. Please do not start your guess work based upon opinion from such elements. The overwhelming approval is for BJP and PM and they will thump all other parties and come to power. Yes setbacks will be there, all the misrule of past so many years has to be overcome for results to show, so do not engage in wild speculations please in December 2019 when the next elections are only in May 2024.
K Srinivasa R
Condition of Insurance Sector may match with others
If the present scenario goes on, condition of Insurance Sector will be like Real Estate Sector, Aviation Sector, Banking Sector etc.
RajeshTenany.
Monday, 30 December 2019
Forum

In serial order:

DEBATE (1)
1. Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
2. Sharad Pawar
3. Kamal Nath
Paarth Garg
DEBATE (2)
Yogi Adityanath, C M, U. P. 2) Amit Shaw 3) Rajanath Singh.
Suryanarayana Murty Kolluri
“Garnering votes by throwing tax payers’ money down the drain?”
In the run upto Assembly election in Delhi in Feb,2020, there is a tough competition going on between Modi sarkar and the present AAP sarkar in wooing voters in Delhi. Result : Wasteful spending from public funds on advertisements, rallies, free power ,free rides for ladies in DTC .Other freebies and still counting . C&AG and CEC are clueless, helpless. At least , so it seems. The buck does not stop here. The public is gullible and the Media unmindful.
Consider another illegality.
RTI

Should similar RTI applications be replied to?

The appellant sought information related to his grievance which was sent to Ministry of Culture on Pg Portal. The PIO did not provide the desired information. During the hearing and in their written submissions also, both the PIO and the deemed PIO admitted that since the subject matter in the present RTI application and another RTI application filed in the past (which was replied to) were similar, they had taken the stand that a reply in connection with the present RTI application was not required. They also submitted that the appellant is in the habit of filing repeated RTI application on the same subject matter. The CIC was appalled at the conduct of the CPIO and the deemed PIO for handling the RTI application in such a negligent manner. The PIO and the deemed PIO kept the RTI application with them without taking any action though both had an administrative responsibility under the RTI Act to provide the correct and complete information in a timely manner. The CIC observed that the position not only paints a dismal picture of the public authority in regard to the management of RTI applications but also exhibits lack of complete awareness regarding the provisions of the RTI Act. The CIC imposed a token penalty of Rs 1000/- each u/s 20(1) of the RTI Act on the CPIO, Smt. Vinodi Sharma and Smt. Kusum Dhingra, the deemed PIO.
Comments
As per the provisions of the RTI Act, a categorical reply to each and every RTI application should be provide and this means even if a similar RTI application was replied to before and information was provided, this fact is to be brought to the knowledge of the appellant while replying to the subsequent RTI application.
Citation: Chandranshu Mehta v. Sangeet Natak Akademi (Ministry of Culture) in Decision no.: CIC/SANAK/A/2018/164502/01975/Final, Date of Decision: 28/10/2019, 03/12/2019.
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com
Saturday, 28 December 2019
Forum

Whispers Forum — 28 Dec 2019

DEBATE (1)
With all his experience, only Sharad Pawar will make a good PM.
A C Gulati
Fake News Old Business, Satyagrah - it’s only Anti-dote
Fake news suddenly has become “The News” these days. The only difference now is the speed with which it spreads in no time. In the earlier format the people had to wait for the newspaper next day, but technology has given the power to every individual to be his or her newspaper, journalist, editor and publisher. With liberal ideas about freedom of speech and expression, reasonable restrictions are not exercised. Instead any demand for restraint or restriction by the law is strongly resented. So, a huge ready market for it yields instant dividends. Fake news, disinformation and misinformation are subjects of many best selling international titles. The “intelligence agencies” are realising the dangers of fake news as misuse of the internet, FB, Twitter, WhatsApp etc. is creating law & order problems. Aren’t the newspapers and TV channels inflaming public sentiments by creative headlines, anchor stories and photographs? People believe the media. Hence, it becomes its duty to remain truthful in all circumstances.
M L Gupta
Friday, 27 December 2019
Forum

Whispers Forum — 27 Dec 2019

DEBATE (1)
In my view, after Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal, Nitish Kumar and Mamta Banerjee fall in this category.
Badal Garg
Treatment of LTCG in forthcoming Budget
The budget preparation is on and discussions are taking place at all levels. It looks very surprising neither finance ministry nor CBDT is worried about removal of LTCG on transfer of equity and equity oriented MF to boost market sentiments and increase consumption. There is no doubt economy is moving downwards and speed breakers like LTCG will create further problems and may result in crashing of stock market if irritants are not removed in the budget. It looks very surprising that income tax authorities are asking to fill up the details as per ITR 2 in case there is loss or LTCG is less than 1 lakh knowing well there is no tax liability. This is something unexplained even why such details are being asked in ITR. It gives rise to suspescion and may lead to harassment of tax payers in case of some mismatch. When we are moving to faceless scrutiny and pre-filled ITR regime why enter into complexity of asking the details without any tax obligations. If logic is further extended then nearly 35 crores people are required to file the ITRs to know that is there any tax liability on the income or not. Simply ask the information for reporting purpose as was being followed till FY 2017-18. Let the department to focus how to judge the correctness of income of professionals instead of asking un-necessary details on LTCG. There is no tools or methodologies available with tax officials to judge the correctness of income and tax obligations on professionals. There is differential treatment also in case of professionals and salaried class. Giving 50% rebate upto 5o lakhs income is no good idea to justify that there is expenditure on account of maintenance of office and staff etc. whereas in salaried class there is no such expenditure so no concessions. This is not logical. The standard deduction in case of salaried class is to be increased to bring at par with professionals for tax treatment. Excess flow of cash is also not good for economy in the country. This excess cash runs parallel economy and can be seen how big cash is being seized in raids. Govt. should consider no cash transaction of more than Rs. 10,000/-. Let it be digital or thru plastic cards as 90% people estimated are having bank accounts and Aadhar and they can be provided the facilities of any media for transactions. Govt. should consider removal of LTCG in case of equity transfer or equity oriented MF and may consider of increasing STT if necessary. Such policy oriented approach may increase the confidence of investors and will result in increase in investment and boost the sentiments which is very much required at this juncture to lift the overall economy. The mechanical approach like reducing repo rate will not boost the economic growth keeping in mind RBI to concentrate on Monetary Policies to maintain the price stability and control the inflation etc and Ministry on growth.
Naveen
Govt. attention required
These Assistant Commissioners were promoted on the basis of charity, to avoid stagnation, and 4000 posts were created for them on temporary basis. The same is being extended by CBIC as a goodwill gesture. Now, the same people, who have been shown generosity by the CBIC, are demanding for further promotion, knowing well that the ratio, as decided for the promotion posts as well as direct recruits, does not allow it. Are these promoted Assistant Commissioners, of 2014, as stated, willing for reversion to their earlier posts of Superintendents or Appraisers? If so, the government should think over it and revert them back, by abolishing 4000 posts created temporarily for them.
Vikas Singh
Why do always the most incapable get plum postings? Even post retirement?
Ashok Menon
Thursday, 26 December 2019
Forum

Whispers Forum — 26 Dec 2019

DEBATE (1)
Except Narendra Modi none because everyone thinks that country is in safe hands and corruption at the centre is negligible as compared to states.
L S Hardenia
DEBATE (2)
Except Narendra Modi no one is PM material in the country.
N Rawat
Nothing wrong
There is absolutely nothing wrong in mentioning coincidence of all the top three in MoF are from particular state Caste. It’s excellent journalism. Not at all offensive. Thanks for the information.
NVN
Thank you so much
Thank you so much for taking up the matter of promotion of Promotee ACs of 2014 (promoted on 22/10/2014) of CBIC. CBIC promoted them since there was requirement of Officers at the level of ACs, but now do not want to contaminate its blue blood under the bureaucratic jargon of adhoc, temporary. Records can be seen CBIC has been promoting officers on adhoc basis till the rank of Commissioners. How come vacancies for Direct Recruit ACs in subsequent years, in 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 came out to be regular vacancies and vacancies for Promotee ACs who were promoted on 22/10/2014 and joined before Direct ACs of 2014, have been termed adhoc temporary. If you don't require services of Promotee ACs revert them, but don't humiliate them. As such in past PAC of Parliament has already indicted CBIC as "habitual litigant." It does not act without court orders. This Promotion Scam needs to be seriously investigated.
Dinesh
Wednesday, 25 December 2019
Forum

Putin doesn't stand a chance

About the global leader as of now, Putin doesn't stand a chance it has to USA, China or India..so if not Modi then Xi should be world leader though he is not in best of his times.
Kundan Lal
Happenings in the country quite worrisome
What is happening in the country is quite worrisome. First Assam erupted against NRC followed by other North-East states. After the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill now almost the entire country is burning including the Capital .The brutal treatment of Jamia students by police where many students have been left with injuries, fractures and one with damaged eye is really condemnable. This has provoked students from other educational institutions to come out in support of these students and against the CAA and NRC. Some mischievous and anti-social elements seem to have infiltrated these protesters and indulged in rioting destroying buses and attacking police. Instead of assuaging the young students and reprimanding the police for entering the campus at Jamia as also in AMU they were encouraged to go ahead with harsh action against the students. Looking at what is happening one wonders whether we are a democratic country since the dissent is met with baton beating teargas shells and even detention and arrest. Democracy does not mean that we have election after five years and once voted the Government can do anything without consulting public opinion or we follow an agenda contrary to what people want and there is absolute opaqueness (as in the project for Central Vista development) where huge amount of public expenditure is involved people have the right to know and speak.
Aarti Khosla
Tuesday, 24 December 2019
Forum

CBIC discriminating

CBIC discriminating between Promotee ACs of 2014 & Direct ACs of 2014 & 2015. Direct ACs of 2014 have been promoted on 01/01/2019 & DPC for Direct ACs of 2015 has been done & order expected on 01/01/2020, again Promotee ACs of 2014 have been left out. Are Promotee ACs untouchables or only blue blood runs in the veins of CBIC ??? Revert them if you don’t require their services but don’t humiliate them by asking them to work under juniors. Gross violation of constitution !
Pradeep
Monday, 23 December 2019
Forum

Top positions in Finance Ministry

I am surprised to read this news item specifying that All Three are TAMBRAMS. Is it necessary to indicate the region and caste of Ministers and officials ? While we condemn the Politicians for using region, religion and caste for seeking votes, a website like your’s is also doing the same. Would request you to refrain from such words in your website .
S Gopal
Peculiar situation ahead in CBIC !
It will be peculiar situation in CBIC, wherein Direct Asst. Commissioners recruited in 2014 have been promoted to the post of Dy. Commissioner who have joined after the ACs who have been promoted on 22/10/2014 and now CBIC is going to do grave injustice & has done DPC to promote Direct Recruit batch of ACs of 2015 batch. For your kind information, Promotee ACs work as full fledge ACs from day 1 as they have rich departmental experience with them, where as Direct recruit ACs are put on 2 years probation to learn the job and thereafter 2 years promoted to the rank of DC. Will a Direct Recruit AC of 2015 who will become DC on 01/01/2020 will become boss of promotee AC who has been promoted in 2014, when even direct AC was not even not born in Department. CBIC is doing contempt of Supreme Court Judgement of Manipur Police Service. CBIC Chairman & Members have audacity to do such bungling under the nose of Modi Govt. It is a big news investigate & publish.
Rakesh
Saturday, 21 December 2019
Forum

Appeasement or blackmail of Muslims & Hindus alike ?

The ruling classes since 1947 have exploited most shamelessly both the Muslims and the Hindus. In India, this policy helped them win elections by frightening the Muslim minority in the name of the majority portraying them all as the communal and assassin of the Father Of The Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and blackmailing the majority with extreme hatred for Jinnah, the person who divided the country and the society of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb. These rulers of New India had no love for either. They emulated the British in pursuing the policy of Divide and Rule with innovative improvements, vision and mission. They thought they would be able to rule India forever like the British Empire, over which the sun never set, and enjoy absolute power which would arouse the jealousy of even Aurangzeb in his tomb. Alas! Their dream has been shattered by a man called Narendra Modi. He was given the mandate by the people of newer India, freed from the slavery of these new India rulers. They are so disturbed that they exhibit hysteria making “foul is fair and fair is foul “true. The country was going downhill at an accelerated speed under these rulers, which has been stemmed. Both communities have given the mandate to Narendra Modi along with all others. They would have been spared the botheration had the National Institutes/councils for History, sociology, philosophy, anthropology etc. done valued research on these aspects of the constitution of the society in India e.g. its composition, bonding, divisions, fraternity, unity and peaceful co-existence for centuries. But they have failed to do their duty with the result students go on strike and people damage public/private property out of ignorance. Had these national institutions done world class research, the new generations would have been educated and the international bodies issuing ridiculous statements threatening sanctions would not have dared talk. The Triple Talaq Law proves the point that the ruling class was not only exploiting suffering Muslim women of India for 70 years since independence but are dead opposed to the legislation even today. They are awfully superficial but in the absence of reliable information from respectable quarters like these national institutions, they market their ideas to create confusion, chaos and anarchy in order to derive political benefit out of it to keep continuing ruling the country/state. The people of both India and Pakistan have suffered due to the unholy machinations of the rulers of respective countries after 1947. Pakistan has established the army rule in Pakistan, which enjoys unlimited power to hang their elected prime minister, shoot a woman prime minister, exile a third prime minister and threaten to execute a former military ruler. They had already blasted an earlier military ruler. Only genuinely innocent & naïve often ask the political purpose of communal politics. These points need to be kept in view while debating purposes and intentions of the rulers in both the countries thriving and prospering playing communal politics.
M L Gupta
Congratulations !
Congratulations to N Srinivasulu Garu on being selected as D (F) for the BDL.
Rangineni Sudhakar Rao
Fasteg’ problems
Sir fasteg sa dusra laine lagagi or diesel Barbad hoga or energy time Baker hoga
Jitesh
Friday, 20 December 2019
Forum

“Garner votes; To hell with Good governance ?”

The union government’s decision to regularise 1728 unauthorised colonies in the national capital, benefiting 50 lakh Delhites, is highly disturbing. The mercies have been bestowed on ghetto-dwellers, the depressed and chronically poor people who have been living in slums for decades. Another shocker. The regularized slums are devoid of bulk municipal services like pucca roads, houses, potable water, sewer lines etc. Political gimmicks before the impending elections in NCT, Delhi. Unfair for the ruling dispensation to take credit by simply issuing ownership certificates ? No substantive works. Ours is, perhaps, the only country in the world that brought in a new legislation, as a tribute to bad planning.
Conferring land rights to property owners in 1,728 unauthorised colonies at a nominal charge. Nothing unusual. The move comes in the wake of a series of populist measures, freebies announced by Kejriwal sarkar.
DDA is to start conferring ownership rights after 90 days at throwaway rates of 0. 5% of local circle rate for properties measuring less than 100 sq mtrs and @ 2.5 % of areas measuring larger than 250 sq mtrs.
No Government decision is perfect. These always have loopholes, black holes for exploitation by sly, manipulative forces. The unquestioned authority of the elected Executive on the pliable appointed Executive (bureaucracy) and the latter’s propensity to oblige the corrupt politicians for getting undeserved promotion and juicy postings on quid pro quo basis. A favour for a favour.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
Govt should provide platform to common people
Government should launch a website on which common people should be able to easily load pictures & movies of atrocities being committed by the Policemen and Government officials (especially misusing office perks & facilities for personal purposes) on regular basis. This step will keep them on check.
BBS
Thursday, 19 December 2019
Forum

CIC has not shown any crusader type of work

The CIC has not shown the crusader type of work which it was supposed to do. Cases such as this should have brought out the mercenary zeal in the Information Commission but alas ! it has gone into stupor. The Information Commission must come out of its somnambulism and take a decisive step in such cases to clean its own house. Otherwise, it would be bereft of all the dignity associated with the office and reduced to any ordinary government office.
Swami Periyar
Can RTI applicant get copy ?
Can a copy of inquiry report submitted to Government for final decision, be issued to RTI applicant ? Kindly advise us.
Sudhakar G