Whispers Forum

The present system of appointments in Central Universities and Institutes like IITs and IIMs is worse than the system of collegium of judges’ selection. The VC/Director and Head can choose whoever they want, based on half hour interview, without substantive weights to academic records or published research. Many hanky-panky are done. It is unfortunate that this has not changed, and people with backing of faculties are selected. No competition, no appraisals etc. It is a complete incestuous relationship, and people of left leanings still are flourishing, and also creating agitations against this government. The government should not be apologetic, and ruthlessly clean up the system, by having a central level education board etc as existed before independence. Otherwise the present system of nepotism and favouritism will continue and atmosphere will continue to be vitiated.
S Chatterjee

The latest episode of the rift between the politicians and civil servants in Delhi Government exposes how low we have reached in governing this country. That the Chief Secretary should be assaulted for not agreeing to do what he thought was not possible as per SC guidelines by MLAs in the presence of the Chief Minister is so bizarre and shameful. The bureaucracy has been at the receiving end of politicians in this so called democracy we revel in. The more the upstart a minister or a politician is, more obnoxious is his misbehaviour with the civil servants he works with. He thinks and it does happen that people approve of such behaviour because of the image of bureaucracy in the popular mind as being corrupt and unsympathetic .But all civil servants are not in that mould as not all politicians can be painted with the same brush. The way some civil servants work hard even at the cost of their health and family life is never appreciated. Incidentally why should a meeting be called in the middle of night. It is high time such onslaught on the physical system of bureaucracy be stopped .Unless there is an emergency why should people be not allowed to sleep as per natural requirement of their body. Some of the union ministers also indulge in the pastime of midnight meetings to perhaps impress the Prime Minister not realising they are troubling the senior officers and their families too. It is high time a balance is restored in the politician-Civil servants relationship in the interest of better governance.
Aarti Khosla

1. Bring Back Financial Institutions Nominees on Borrowing Companies Board. Independent Directors are neither Responsible nor Accountable.
2. Details of financial dealings of Companies must be part of Annual accounts. Names of Sundry Debtors/Creditors/Loans and Advances, etc must be part of accounts
Abridged Balance sheets were fine when they were printed, now no extra cost to Disclose.
3. In October 1998, RBI under pressure because of Siphoning off Money cases detected by CEIB, had Issued a Circular that no Company can lend money at a rate lower than what it borrows and definitely not at Zero.
4. Auditors if borrowing Companies must be changed every 3 years
RBI should impose this condition as a pre-requisite for approval of loans.
5. Banks/ Financial Institutions should determine extent of Equity brought in by Promoters and manner of funding.
6. Assets acquired by Promoters from Funds from Company should be disclosed in accounts.
7. Special Courts should be set up by MCA for disposal of cases of delinquent promoters.
8. Non Publishing/ furnishing of accounts by Companies be punishable with Stuff Fines.
9. SEBI needs overhaul. It is not proactive in monitoring share transactions. Promoters manipulating share prices be punished with Jail and Multiple penalties.
10. RBI Department of Banking Supervision ought to mandatorily conduct Audit of Bank Branches.
11.Consolidation of PSU banks a must.
Why should every PSU bank have a branch abroad? Hong Kong has 20-25 or more branches of PSU banks, when 2-3 will suffice.
Ajay Agnihotri
Kejriwal as a destructive leader?
History Will remember Arvind Kejriwal as a destructive leader the recent event of manhandling of Anshu Prakash, Chief Secretary, Delhi by the MLAs of AAP in the presence of and with the support of Arvind Kejriwal is a case of conversion of a political party called AAP from the agent of positive change to a party of street goons. It ensures that Sh. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, will go to history as a destructive leader, who tried to destroy every pillar of the governance. Although, the politicians want all credit to their accounts, the Indian Bureaucracy, in spite of its limitations, is the real hero. It has been credited for successfully operating the government since independence, giving full respect to our federal democratic system. I express my solidarity with Sh. Anshu Prakash, Chief Secretary, Delhi.
Prof A K Verma ISS (Retd.)
SAIL officers’ choice an IAS officer for Chairman !
There is not only a financial crisis but the ethical / moral fabric of the organisation, which was already in a precarious state has been completely destroyed beyond repair, thanks to the mindless use of discretion based on casteism, regionalism, vested interest etc exercised .The entire cadre both executives and non-executives are completely shattered.
Narayan
SAIL officers’ choice an IAS officer for Chairman !
I agree, but there is a person who retired recently as DGM, and is very honest, sincere, highly qualified, and joined in Bhilai as MT(T) and worked in Erection, Testing, commissioning, operation, maintenance, design engineering, finance and personal of all steel plants of SAIL, and his batchmates told him that he would be future chairman of SAIL. He spent 72 hours in plant along with then soviets for commissioning of the first slab caster on July 31st 1985 at Bhilai. Being honest, firebrand in nature, he has been side tracked in promotions. such person is needed for SAIL. he can turnaround SAIL within a year, and he will implement pension, wage revision etc in SAIL. he knows in and outs of SAIL.
A retd Executive

The Raffale deal has evoked heart burn that is worse than crop burning in neighbouring states! But "bidroop ki hansi" has been misconstrued as laughter by the English media in India. It is not laughter- it is bidroop ki hansi meaning it is ridiculing someone you hate for no reason. Leaders are setting examples unworthy of imitation in use of parliamentary language in serious debates. But the biggest cackle is reference to Surpanakha. I also watched the proceedings but her name was not mentioned even once. Why is the press wasting its imaginary editorial space by referring to Surpanakha? Why should they insult Surpanakha (Ravan Ki Bahana) as she was entitled to seek Shri Ram (she only said "to sam purush na mo sam naari). The debate was not about any such matter. Besides the Ramayan has many women characters of high stature e.g. Manthara, Taraka etc. But because the English educated Indians consider it below dignity to read Indian classics, they freely misconstrue the message and quote foreign authors not related to the situation. Didn't Ravan laugh loudly? He was advised by his brother to make peace with Shri Ram but he kicked him out and laughed boisterously, no one crackled, at Vibhishan referring to Ram as Shri Ram. That laughter is still reverberating in the Jagat!!! Jai........
M L Gupta
Rationalise distribution of work
I think to a great extent the problem of the paucity can be taken care of by rational distribution of work. Majority of them do not have sufficient work while a chosen few are heavily loaded.
AP

Politicians are the same irrespective of their party. High time we start electing the better of the lot. Party is synonymous with a gang whichever it is.
ARC Kumar
Civil service needs reforms
I disagree that diplomats and ambassadors are useless and not required in this age of digitization. Without one to one interaction on the ground, no results can be achieved in diplomacy. Diplomats and HOMs/HOPs are a conduit to the policy formation between two nations and also international relations too. Of course, to improve governance system in India, civil service needs reforms and pruning too, so that Government's role is reduced.
Harish Kumar
Scrap SAIL Chairman selection
Appoint a retired DGM level person who is honest sincere, qualified and suffered due to regionalism, casteism, not paying price tag. Other wise it will be another PNB scam.
A Retd Executive

I agree. There are still a large number of officers at seniormost levels, who are the agents of UPA, and are trying to sabotage things, including several retired ones, who have been given post retirement jobs. Their activities will increase with the coming general elections, for obvious reasons. Their number will not be high, and the government would do well to screen these senior officers thoroughly, especially those in important /sesitive positions. This will ensure cleaning the dirt in time.
S Chatterjee
Encashment of half pay leave (HPL) on superannuation
One of my friend superannuated recently from Maharatna steel PSU. He has 160 days EL and 140 days HPL. The great finance department calculated encashment for 160 days EL and HPL commuted to 70 days which is equivalent to 230 days leave salary. as per DPE OM no.2(14)/12-DPE(WC)-GL-iv/14 dated 7th feb 2014, the cash equivalent payable for half pay leave would be equal to leave salary as admissible for half pay plus DA to make up the shortfall in earned leave. No commutation of half pay leave would be permissible.
A Retd Executive

You quoted Charles de Gaulle in This is History (818): Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains they drown in every drop. And you put photograph of Sushma Swaraj next to the quote. Actually, Foreign Ministers are useful and it is the Ambassadors who are useless. With modern communications, Foreign Ministers can talk to each other directly. Moreover a country does not need an Ambassador to know what is happening in the other country. Other methods are better and more reliable. It is only because of hysteresis certain things like Fax Machines and snail mail still exist. Diplomats’ job is reduced to drowning in every drop of alcohol.
Prof. N.C. Saxena
Postings, promotions decided by contractors
I know the postings, promotions in PSBs and PSU's are decided by contractors and influenced.
A Retired Executive
Ayer should become citizen of Pakistan
My advice to Mani Shankar Ayer is that he should become a citizen of Pakistan as he gets so much love from them while fellow Indians are his enemies. It was really sickening to hear him praising Pakistan and running down his own country on their soil and that too when coffins of six jawans and a civilian killed by Pakistan sponsored terrorist strike on an army camp in Jammu were being ferried to their weeping heartbroken relatives in their respective towns and villages. The gentleman was enjoying the hospitality of Pakistanis and showering fullsome praise on that country. Yes he has lot of friends there .It seems during his stint as diplomat there, he was busy making friends rather than focusing on Indo-Pak relations. He and his likes FOP (friends of Pakistan) need to be dealt with properly.
Aarti Khosla

The Appellant sought information regarding the number of seats allowed by the CBSE to B.D. Public School for intake in Class IX and XI and issues related thereto. The PIO provided the student description furnished by the School as per its online application no. EX-02558-1516 and informed that no further information was available with them. The CIC observed that the Appellant had raised very pertinent issues regarding permissions granted by the CBSE for maximum student intake by the School which concerned the interest of the public at large. The CIC felt that periodic and up-to-date disclosure of such information could render the entire admission process transparent since the public would be informed about maximum intakes allowed to a school and take an informed decision in pursuing the admission process. The CIC advised the CBSE to instruct the schools affiliated to the Board to periodically suo motu disclose all information regarding the Student Intake and other such related information by them to the Board as also upload details on their website keeping in view the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005 and the larger public interest involved in the matter.
Comments
Schools are the centres of learning and one of the most important sections of public life which should voluntarily disclose the information as per section 4. This decision would enable more parents to demand disclosure from schools.
Citation: Mr. Sanjeev Kumar v. CBSE, Delhi in Appeal No.:-CIC/CBSED/A/2017/195101-BJ, Date of Decision : 16.02.2018
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICand PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at - http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

Poor knowledge on this front. Only those promoted as Secretaries i.e. who reach the last ladder are entitled to Diplomatic Passports. No one else has ever been issued. All these seasoned diplomats do give back to the society in the shape of free consultancy to MEA and its allied organizations till they survive.
Harish Kumar
PNB scam
It is shameful that PNB has given recently the vigilance award. Not only PNB Vigilance award has been given to most corrupt organisations. When complaints were given to vigilance about a Director Technical in a PSU, no body bothered.
A Retired PSU Executive
GM level officer paying price for action against senior officers
He has submitted his representation to CVC for justice in line with the Protection conferred by CVC on the Vigilance Officers, with copies to PMO & Cabinet Secretary for necessary action.
Bibhuti
Budget for good governance
Union Budget 2018 has been presented with number of good news and not so good news. Revenue is utmost important to run various welfare schemes and meet Govt. expenditure. Direct tax collection is equally important and Govt. must continue to move towards simplification of tax rules. Good relief has been given to Sr. citizens but Govt. should extend some relief to Sr. citizen women specially house wives and retired teachers etc. whose income is less than 5 lakhs to be exempted from scrutiny. This is one of the progressive step. Good compliance is seen from salaried class as they do not have any option except to pay the required taxes. But the Govt. is clueless and no methodology whatsoever is available to assess the real income of other category like professionals (doctors, lawyers, contractors, artists etc), traders, business men etc. and in result is not good tax compliance as per report. Govt. should workout the strategies and methods to find out the real income of these categories by redeploying the staff instead of scrutinising the cases who have deposited 2 lakhs of rupees or purchased MF of 50,000/ and invested 1 lakh in equity. One more gray area for IT department is high tech crypto currency exchanges and people dealing in this area like bitcoin cash etc. This is not simple to find out the people involved and money being transacted so Govt. should take this area very seriously. Hard tax money collected should also not to be used for meeting NPAs and supporting loss making PSUs. Let them stand their own. They draw huge salary and perks. Make NGOs and Party fund taxable to meet budget deficit. Recovery from big 1000 loan defaulters is sufficient to meet fiscal deficit. With regard to GST, if it is implemented properly, it will meet most of the Govt. requirement as it is paid by every one. People still buy and sell products without bringing into their book of accounts and "kachchi Parchi" works in most of wholesale and retail market. This is to be changed once GST is implemented properly, the income of individuals can also be assessed properly. Govt. has to find out the areas which requires more attention and deploy the staff accordingly to achieve the objective. Good luck for 2018 budget.
Naveen

The political executive headed by PM Modi is expected to invoke seditionary laws to rein in watermouths like the Congis, Commies, Owaissis, Mani Shankar Aiyar and their likes.
“Dil ke phaphole jal uthe seene ke daag se,
Is ghar ko aag lag gayi ghar ke chiraag se ”
A small-time politician called Sandeep Dikshit must be put under house arrest for speaking against the country, its Armed forces, calling Gen Rawat as " sadak kaa Gundaa" How is he still having a free run despite serious allegations of corruption in CWG scams ? The alleged funding of such anti-nationals by the ISI for dividing indian muslims and hindus, must be investigated. Giving them a long rope by the Modi sarkaar
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)