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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.

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June 2021 29 posts · page 2 of 3

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Thursday, 17 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 17 Jun 2021

DEBATE (1)
Bureaucrat use politicians more. Though politician is more liable for the public, bureaucrats are not.
Gaurav Tiwari
DEBATE (2)
Politicians, after coming to power, exert all authorities to make the bureaucrats accept and meet their plans and expectations. Bureaucrats abide by the politicians under undue pressure and pay prices for their deeds.
Mukesh Ubanare
Good augury
It is a a good augury that merit is the sole consideration in any appointments in he NDA governments. On the other hand in the govts in the past, a number of outstanding officers have missed the bus due to extraneous considerations.
K Srinivasa Rao
Wednesday, 16 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 16 Jun 2021

DEBATE(1)
Polticians and bureaucrats, both try to exploit each other but ultimately bureaucrats succeed.
Girja Shankar
(DEBATE 2)
More than two millennia back, the master of statecraft Chanakya aka Kautilya aka Vishnugupta stated “नैकं चक्रं परिभ्रम्यति” which translates as "you cannot move a chariot having a single wheel." The Constitution of India unambiguously reflects the noble objective of the founding fathers who clearly laid down that the legislature, the executive and the judiciary must function like components of a well-oiled machine for the proper functioning of our democracy. However, present-day India is radically different from what it was in the initial decades post-Independence. Idealism plummeted in the political sphere and now almost anyone with deep pockets can don the mantle of a parliamentarian or legislator. Politicians are not "all bad" but it is often observed that they pressurise the bureaucracy to have things done their way. In such a situation, an honest officer's choices are certainly not easy - either ignore, buckle or protest at the cost of transfer or suspension! A babu who acts like a puppet will definitely have the advantage of his or her other mistakes or graft being 'pardoned' but that hardly augurs well for public welfare.
Abhijit C. Chandra
Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Forum

Politicians use bureaucrats

DEBATE(1)
Misusing bureaucracy by the political class is a curse of the system. Who is responsible for this mess? Is the elite Service, a steel frame or a steel cage? None of these. Rather, a battered tin cage where the inmates willingly serve their political masters for getting quid pro quo benefits as rewards.
‘Give-and-take’, is fair play. Nothing like “Give-and-give” and “Take-and-take” relationships.
Politicians are past masters in manipulating bureaucrats to their advantage and after having done with, throw them as used tissue papers.
Sadly, the “maibaap” culture, is not possible without the active connivance of willing bureaucrats. Politicians’ are fair weather friends. They can stab anyone, anytime.
This has been the trend since independence, nurtured by the system that is flawed. People are bad, not democracy.
Things will be alright once the Rule of law is restored in the country and discretionary powers of the political Executive covering powers to transfer, give post-retirement placements to bureaucrats, are scrapped by the Supreme court as ultra vires the Constitutional Right to Equality and Rule of Law.
This has led to autocracy under successive dispensations.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
Indians in top positions in World for the first time
India under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi and able management of human resources of India by P.K. Mishra has, for the first time, Indians in top positions in World Bank like CFO, Chief Risk Officer, COO MIGA and Vice President in IFC. PMO sustained efforts for strategic human capital placement in International org has been well received and it will boost the demand for quality human capital from India in the International organisations. India is a donor in many organisations like GEF, GCF, CW, UN. GFDRR, IDA, UNIDO. Indian manpower placement will further the country's goals as a donor.
Ram Singh
Monday, 14 June 2021
RTI

Data about persons with disabilities

Information on 15 points was sought from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment such as the number of persons having Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mental illness, Multiple Disabilities etc. Information about offence committed against persons with disability and data about the against persons with disability like their Marital Status, Employment Status, Education Status was also desired. Further, the appellant sought information about steps taken to encourage employment and equal participation of the differently abled in the field of work and to promote respect, empathy and tolerance towards the differently abled. The PIO submitted the available data of persons with disabilities (PwDs) category wise and State wise was provided. He added that the process of incorporating segregated data on autism and specific learning disabilities is ongoing as a part of the UDID initiative i.e ‘Unique Disability ID’ which is being implemented with a view of creating a National Database for PwDs, and to issue a Unique Disability Identity Card to each person with disabilities. The CIC held that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment ought to take certain extraordinary steps aimed at data creation entailing the aspects as pointed out by the Appellant in his RTI Application to the extent possible and to facilitate a centralised resource centre i.e the Ministry’s website for the general public. A copy of the order was marked to the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to expeditiously look into the serious concerns raised by the Appellant and to take note of the advisory of the Commission.
Comments
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 Act was enacted under Article 253 of Constitution of India to give effect to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The applicant has used the RTI Act successful for creating a huge database for the persons with disability.
Citation: L Muruganantham v. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in File No: CIC/DEPDD/A/2019/648066, Date of Decision: 31/05/2021
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
Forum

Whispers Forum — 14 Jun 2021

DEBATE(1)
Bureaucrats should stick to their professional business and should not transgress all the bounds of decency at the behest of politicians.
Priyanka
(DEBATE)
Topic of discussion is ok but in reality both use each other according to their agenda.
Aniruddha Jain
Another victory for Modi Govt
Ms. Jagjit Pawadia has been elected as President of INCB, Vienna. She is a former IRS officer. This is another victory for Modi Govt and his Principal Secretary Mishra for placing India's human capital for the world with a vision. India should continue to push and help officers selected through competition on merit. This is a good sign after World Bank group success for India. IRS officers due to their hard work and commitment have been in demand with the international organisation.
Ram Kumar
Saturday, 12 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 12 Jun 2021

DEBATE(1)
Its both ways.Politicians use bureaucrats and bureaucrats use politicians. Depends on circumstances.
B M Chari
Promotion from state civil service to IAS is a special thing
Promotion from state civil service to IAS is a special thing for them. But in some states they take 7/8 years while in some other states as long as 17/18 years. So you should mention the year of recruitment to state service of these officers who get promoted to IAS. This will give the comparative picture for different states.
Kumar
Friday, 11 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 11 Jun 2021

DEBATE(1)
Politicians will dump the bureaucrats in cases of the latter's misdemeanours and misconduct in order to save the image of the Government. Otherwise, they are favourite with politicians.
Sunil Kumar
Great boost to officers ?
This is the right opportunity for the GoI to recruit personnel for CBI, central intelligence agencies and central police organisations through UPSC based upon a competitive exam and personality test. IPS officers should not be deputed at any cost to these organisations. Only officers directly recruited by these organisations should be appointed chiefs. That will be a great boost to the officers of the organisations listed above..
K Srinivasa Rao
Thursday, 10 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 10 Jun 2021

DEBATE(1)
It is limited no of pliable bureaucrats who use and align with politicians for petty gains . I have rarely seen an upright and competent officer being exploited or used by politicians.
A N Prasad
People trust you more than DoPT !
Imagine, people trust you more than DoPT. That day is not far, when they will need to consult you, since they have lost credibility.
Gen Dahiya
Wednesday, 9 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 9 Jun 2021

DEBATE (1)
Its both ways .In order to get good positions in the administration bureaucrats use politicians.
N D Joshi
DEBATE(2)
Infact, bureaucrats use politicians because the later have lack of rules and regulations.
Dinesh Gupta
Chances of WWIII looming large ?
I am in complete agreement with AK Saxena, it is almost certain India China and India-Pakistan are going to be the boiling points. The moment it starts Taiwan, Hong Kong, Iran. North Korea and above all Israel Palestine fronts will follow immediately. Chances of WWIII looming large as unipolarity is dead and balance of power is missing for too long with the collapse of USSR. Chinese would be paying a heavy price. Wish 5 provinces of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau declare independence. This is only in the interest of India in long run, of course it would be a mad destruction infinite, not healthy for world economy
Harish Kumar
Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Forum

Whispers Forum — 8 Jun 2021

DEBATE (1)
Only politicians use bureaucrats. Bureaucrats have no choice but to toe the line to remain in power.
R D Srivastava
Post-retirement service offers to Govt. servants be discouraged
Post-retirement service offers to Govt. servants of UPSC should be discouraged owing to efficiency-conflict of interest & discouraging young citizens to prosper with dynamic age group Services to the taxpayers.
Rambha Mohan
Monday, 7 June 2021
RTI

Only officers of the rank of PIO to attend the hearing before CIC

The appellant filed an application with the UGC and sought to know about the total number of candidate(s) who have taken admission in a particular session of the Jagan Nath University. The PIO, UGC transferred the RTI application under section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005 to The Registrar Jagan Nath University, for providing information directly to the appellant. The CIC observed that the transfer of the RTI Application under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act by PIO, UGC to Registrar Jagan Nath University mindlessly without ascertaining the status of the said University vis-à-vis Section 2(h) of the RTI Act was not appropriate. The CIC emphasized that the Appellant had sought for the information from a public authority and not from the Jagan Nath University which is very well as per the letters and spirit of the RTI Act. The PIO, UGC was directed by CIC to provide a statement indicating the total number of candidate(s) who have taken admission in the averred session of the University. The CIC directed the Chairman, UGC to ensure that only officers equivalent to the rank of the PIO are designated to represent the cases before the Commission in future.
Comments
In case the PIO is not able to attend the hearing before the CIC, an officer of the equivalent rank who is well versed with the issue, should be nominated to attend the hearing.
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
Forum

Whispers Forum — 7 Jun 2021

DEBATE(1)
Though both politicians and bureaucrats use each other buit come politicians back close confidant bureaucrats to the hilt. Mamta Banerjee always stands by the bureaucrats when it comes to the crunch.
T N Bhattacharya
“Will WW-3 precede the 3rd wave ?”
US’ 90 days deadline to CIA for demystifying the Wuhan leakage is meaningless. The entire world is convinced of China's complicity. No escape for it.
The world cannot remain a mute witness. Fearing world-wide retaliation and negative publicity, China could be preparing for pre-emptive strikes at LAC and with Pakistan at LOC.
Ignoring the disengagement agreement with India , China has started mobilising war machinery along the LAC. Likewise, Pakistan after throwing the cease-fire accord with India to the wind, has escalated hostilities along the LOC with enhanced proxy attacks.
The joint conspiracy against India,is unquestioned with worldwide ramifications. Offensives could start anytime before expiry of 90 days.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)