Whispers Forum

Debate
Constitution of CDS like post will definitely lower the morale of Heads of CBI, ED, DRI, CEI and FIU. They can't work freely and professionally. The Government should scrap the plan if thought of it.
Sandeep Kumar
Misuse of vehicles needs to be stopped
Something has to be done fast to bring an end to the prevalent regime of misuse of vehicles at the exchequer's cost by Ministers and Bureaucrats or otherwise our society is going to heavily pay for it in the near future. The judiciary also, in this business, does not go unscathed.
Anurag

Debate
Such government schemes take too long to materialize. It’s not a simple task to have one investigation agency to probe financial crimes given the scope and nature of such crimes is so different. A similar proposal to replace autonomous education regulators like UGC and AICTE with the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) has been hanging fire for years. In the defence sector it is a different thing. You can have a leader of the armed forces. But a CDS like authority to supervise economic offences is a rather impractical proposal. It may take too long to materialize. It could lead to controversies and disputes.
Brijesh Kumar
Inflation spirals out of control
Hikes in essential commodities may not be an issue for some political parties. But it is a blazing issue causing a detrimental effect on the living of a common man in this country. It is a matter of fact that the inflation in this country has spiralled out of control.
Aadesh Kumar Gupta

The appellant sought a copy of the answer sheets in English Language in ICSE Examination which was not provided The Assistant Secretary informed that the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations is not a public authority under Section 2(h) of RTI Act and as such, the information cannot be provided. The CIC observed that the Respondent office has established that it is not a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act and is as such not amenable to the jurisdiction of the RTI Act. The denial of information was upheld.
Comments
In many previous orders, [CIC in Anil Karla vs. CPIO bearing File No. CIC/MOHRD/C/2019/133799; Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court in WP No. 12549 (W) of 2016 Dinesh Sinha and others Vs. The ICSE and others; and Division Bench of the Delhi High Court in LPA No. 617/2011 CISCE Vs. Ajay Jhuria] has ruled that ICSE is not amenable to RTI Act.
Citation: Yakshay Chheda v. Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination in CIC/MOHRD/A/2019/650057, Date: 11.03.2022
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. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

With reference to A K Agnihotri's comments on reduction in fuel consumption, it is stated that there is an urgent need on the part of the Government of India to end rampant misuse of vehicles at the exchequer's cost by the Minister's and Bureaucrats. Nobody should be allowed to have more than one vehicle at their disposal and they should also pay through their pocket fuel spent by them for their personal purposes, as per the extant rules. These days the Staff Car rules are not strictly being followed. The Public Sector Undertakings and other offices of the Government of India are also rampantly being exploited by the Ministries/Departments for personal purposes. There are also black sheep officers who on one hand are taking Transport Allowance with their monthly salary but at the same time are taking vehicle facilities for commuting from residence to office and back. You can see official vehicles parked in front of the residences of all Joint Secretary level officials on Holidays for their personal use. If some drastic action is taken by both the Central and State Government, then only our fuel burden can be reduced , traffic jams reduced and pollution controlled.
Anurag

All future payments for gas have to be made in Rouble. Rouble is not a tradable currency. Now each country is negotiating separately for trade in each other’s currency, basically a barter trade. India with Russia; India with Iran; India with Venezuela. The USA is getting marginalized in this. Meanwhile, Rouble which had dropped to 150 against $ in early March, is now back at 100 crude prices have jumped as a result too. India must curtail indiscriminate use of fuels by gas guzzlers lest poor pay for profligacy of the rich.
A K Agnihotri

Debate
The country currently has several agencies to deal with economic offences. We shall have to make several changes if we want a single agency to deal with economic crimes. That agency must have officers, staff and competence to deal with and investigate different types of crimes. A CDS like agency is a good idea. If it materializes, the probes against economic offences will be faster and better. But it is necessary that the agency is not used by ruling dispensation for the achievement of its goals. The question is whether it will be allowed to function as an independent and fair agency.
Kamal Shukla
No harm in providing copy
There is no harm in providing a physical copy especially when one is filling to pay a fee for it.
Subhash Srivastava

Debate
Synergy can easily be made as they are already under the same ministry, same Secretary and same Minister. Why is more synergy required? It will interfere in the functioning of each other resulting in mess.
Priyanka
CSSS & CSS worst affected by way of court cases
Very well said, Samir. We have great hopes with the present establishment that apart from IAS, other services should also be recognised and allowed to prosper. But so far a miniscule only had been done. More reforms and adjustments with alacrity needed to boost the morale of officers and staff. CSSS and CSS are worst affected by way of court cases. Govt should work in tandem and resolve the issues amicably. Only IAS is the mantra that attitude should change for the betterment of the services. Even though it's agreed IAS is above all, that may not be the sole reason to deny others the opportunity to climb. Merit should be the only way forward. Hope some good things happen in future
Ramesh

The Appellant stated that through this appeal he aims to bring out the inconsistency in the procedure followed by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks in issuing copyrights registration certificate and problems faced by start-up entrepreneurs. In the absence of hard copy of the copyrights certificate, it will be difficult for the start-ups to challenge infringement of their copyrights in a Court of Law based on mere digitised proofs and the litigation process will thus incur unwarranted costs. The CIC apprised the Appellant about the mandate of the RTI Act and the PIO clarified that digital registration certificate is issued as per their procedure and is indeed an admissible document in a Court of Law. The CIC observed that the Appellant has gone beyond the mandate of the RTI Act in seeking additional information at the First & Second Appeal stage based on the reply received from the CPIO in response to the instant RTI Application while bringing up issues concerning the merits of the administrative processes of the Respondent office. The CIC held that the issues thus raised by the Appellant are not amenable to the jurisdiction of the CIC under the RTI Act.
Comments
In the case of Hansi Rawat and Another v. Punjab National Bank and Ors. (LPA No.785/2012) dated 11.01.2013, the Delhi High Court held that the proceedings under the RTI Act cannot be converted into proceedings for adjudication of disputes as to the correctness of the information furnished.
Citation: Ramesh Balasubramaniam v. Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks in File No: CIC/CGPDT/A/2020/688343, Date of Decision: 20/01/2022.
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. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Debate
If it has to be headed by one then what is the need for different agencies? The purpose of each agency is different. The power of each agency is different. The jurisdiction of each agency is different. CBI cannot probe until a concerned state or court allows it. The NIA can investigate without any permission. Can a Director of each agency have the morals to work to report every day to CDS like head?
P Agarwal
Improvement of services comes to a naught
All talks about improving the civil services come to a naught if the existing gaps and differences among the various All India Services/Central Services are allowed to widen and persist in the interest of one service namely IAS. I do not understand the reason and rationale behind it. May, be the reason that other services are not allowed to come in contact with political masters and also not allowed to reach at the top echelon of the pyramid. Unless this frustration among all other services is not addressed and everyone is not allowed to climb the ladder based on merits and professional competence, I do not find that this talk of bonhomie and common courses can do any good. Sooner it is taken care of, better it will be in the interest of the general public. Wide gap in promotion, empanelment, key positions, etc need to be looked into on top priority, leaving aside feeling of supremacy and one-upmanship
Samir