Whispers Forum

In a surprising move, the BJP has nominated Rekha Patra as its candidate for the Basirhat parliamentary seat, drawing attention to her emergence from Sandeshkhali. This decision has left many wondering about the motives behind her selection. However, the decision to nominate Patra wasn't without its controversies. Speculation surrounds the circumstances leading to her candidacy, with some suggesting that it was a strategic move by the BJP to capitalize on the local sentiment against Trinamool Congress. Opposition leader Subhendu Adhikari's recommendation and subsequent approval by the central leadership further fueled discussions about the party's intentions.
Aditya Malviya

I have a simple question for the present dispensation; all the political parties have been framed in corruption without exhibiting any material facts openly in the media etc not a single case against BJP or any of its elements. Are they very honest especially all those corrupt who change sides & join BJP also walk free too. To me dispensation is killing the very fabric of democracy by these actions against all opposition. It looks as if we are heading towards one party aristocratic style of one party one man rule.
Harish Kumar

The appellant sought for information regarding Lease Deed dated March 30, 2016, executed between Jaypee Infratech Limited (JIL) and Industrial Development Bank of India Limited (IDBI Bank) wherein JIL transferred to IDBI Bank a land measuring 50.26 acres through Debt Asset Swap (DAS) in order to liquidate their out-standing liabilities amounting to Rs.253.32 Crores. He asked whether any transaction, in part(s) or full, by sale or transfer, took place between March 30, 2016 and August 31, 2023. The appellant argued that after March 30, 2016 and upon DAS, all Ownership and Tangible Rights to the said landed property remained with IDBI Bank in its fullness and hence, there remains No Fiduciary Relationship or Larger Public interest between IDBI Bank and JIL. Further, it is wrong on part of for IDBI Bank to invoke Larger Public interest as there are more than 22,000 Home Buyers of JIL. The appellant alleged that the IDBl Bank has not come out clean and transparent on the information sought only through substantiation of tangible right of JIL in the said property. The CIC directed to provide the available information to the Appellant.
Comments RTI has emerged as a potent tool to obtain information for those affected adversely in a commercial dispute.
Citation:Sqn. Ldr. S. D. Mitroo v. IDBI Bank Limited, CIC/IDBIL/A/2023/147236; Date of Decision: 23.02.2024
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

It was an exhilarating experience, watching the widows of Vrindavan ashrams, participating in the vibrant Holi celebration by smearing each other with colours and showering flowers
Traditionally barred from participating in festivities, for the Vrindavan widows in present times, Holi has become a festival where widows, shunning customs and traditions, engage in pure fun like the rest of society. Breaking taboos, celebrating Holi by Vrindavan widows, is a historic transition --A peaceful and subtle sociological revolution has taken place during the past few years, pregnant with joyful possibilities. Reminiscent of the abolition of Sati tradition. Females' entry into the sanctum sanctorum of hindu temples , is welcome, despite silent opposition from the self-proclaimed thekedars of hinduism. On the same analogy, the Indian Muslim women should be encouraged to enter dargahs like the Haji Ali's. The court abhors discrimination on ground of constitutional equality.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

The UPSC Prelims 2024 is re-scheduled from May 26 to June 16, 2024.Fair enough. But, according to Islamic lunar calendar, the festival of Bak-Eid could be dependent on the conclusion of the month of Ramzaan,which could be either June 16 or June 17,2024 (Source; Google).Let us hope, it falls on June 17,2024.One hopes, the UPSC has taken this fact into consideration before planning new schedule. Normally, the UPSC does not hold examinations clashing with dates of religious festivals. Consider another point. As the Commission has not announced any change in the dates of the Civil services (Mains)2024 ,one assumes the date of commencement notified earlier remains unchanged. As per UPSC’s current annual calendar,the Mains exams will commence on Sept 20 and conclude within five days, possibly by month end. Simple calculation reveals a clear reduction in the time lag between the Prelims and the Mains from erstwhile 117 days to present 96 days. Twenty days time-loss means an awful lot to the aspirants. It would hit them severely and adversely in the Mains preparations in the truncated time frame .It would be just and fair to consider postponing the Mains examination appropriately and make good the loss of time. The civil services exam is the mother of all exams. The ripple effect of its deferment on other exams is inevitable. The UPSC is urged to take the call and remove the uncertainty looming over the aspirants.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Just before the last elections to Gujarat Assembly in 2022-end, the State Government reduced the period of restoration of the commuted value of pension of their employees from 15 years to 13 years. It was done in the home State of Hon'ble Prime Minister. Also, 15 years is a very long period considering the prevailing compound rate of interest on fixed deposits in which money gets doubled even after 12 years even at the rate of six per cent per annum (compound) by applying the rule of 72. In the above analogy, the period can also be reduced in the case of Central Government employees.
D.P. Hura

The 6th phase of elections for 57 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha, UP, West Bengal and Delhi, has been fixed on May 25, 2024.Coincidentally, the UPSC Prelims for202 (notified on Feb 13,2024)are already fixed on May 26,2024.Needless to mention, any change of dates of elections and examination, is not possible. General permission by the Election commission to UPSC, States PSCs, SSC etc to go ahead with recruitment process, is appreciated. But, it throws up other issues connected with logistics and aspirants’ right to vote. The venues for polling and the prelims on consecutive days would be largely same along with administrative staff and the police force, deployed on special duties. Both events would involve massive logistic operations for addressing security concerns. The authorities will, no doubt, take appropriate steps to ensure smooth conduct of elections by ECI and examination by UPSC, the following day. It is unfortunate that lakhs of aspirants would have to forego their right to vote for being unable to reach the examination venues, the next day in a different city. A large number of CS aspirants from States, who choose Delhi as their centre, will be discriminated against. This would cause their unintended disenfranchisement? The aspirants of other exams held by States’PSCs, SSC and other recruitment bodies will face similar predicament. Some States may contemplate changing dates of their exams.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

The appellant asked the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) to inform in how many High Courts, a separate advocate was appointed to present its case apart from apart from the Additional Solicitor General of India, and the amount paid by PCI to the advocate from the year 2020 till now. The PIO informed that such list is not available. On second appeal, the Respondent stated that the relevant information from their official record has been duly furnished to the Appellant within stipulated time frame. The CIC held that an appropriate response as per the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 has been provided by the Respondent since only such information that is held and available with a public authority can be provided to the information seekers. Hence, no further intervention of the Commission is required in the instant matter.
Comments
The quantum of payment made to the advocates has often been argued as personal information held in the fiduciary capacity. In most organisations, there would be a legal head for making the payments which would contain the details of the expenditure incurred during the financial year. Further, such information can be found after inspection of the individual files.
Citation: Shri Arvind Kumar v. Pharmacy Council of India, CIC/PHRCI/A/2023/646736; Date of Decision: 27.02.2024
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