Whispers Forum

DEBATE (1)
Basically, the question asked by the WIC in the debate is rubbish. Can the person who has so lamentably failed to take on Narendra Modi twice in succession succeed on his third try? No, not at all. A recent poll also suggests he can't. Voters when asked to choose their favoured Prime Minister, while 66% nominated Narendra Modi, a mere 8% opted for Rahul Gandhi.
Raju Nath
DEBATE (2)
How can the 2024 elections be between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi? The former is far behind. Review his career since he entered politics, the nicest thing one can say about him is that he is a well-intentioned amateur. He has shown no signs of administrative ability, no desire to take on large, important responsibilities, and no energy or commitment to solving or merely identifying problems even within his own party. How can such a person be handed over the command of the nation?
Shiv Shankar Singh

DEBATE(1)
Why this debate for such a long period when there are many more things which can be debated upon? Rahul Gandhi is nowhere before Modi and even a kindergarten child knows this. Some people say he might come in 2029. He will never and he should never be the PM of India.
Madhu
DEBATE(2)
Modi is not coming in 2024. He has done nothing to improve either to improve the Indian economy or its foreign policy which enhances his image in India. There are a few of his Andhbhakt who feel he has done a great job but not the majority. All constitutional institutions have been destroyed by the present regime. Hope someone else with a great vision of India may emerge in 2024 and may guide India from present turmoil and achieve its past glory for which India is known that is Vasudhave kutumbakam and Serv Dharm sambhav.
Madan Mohan

During the appeal before the CIC, the Ministry of Home Affairs submitted that the tamra-patras were issued by the central government in 1972 only and thereafter by the respective state governments. Hence, the information could not be provided in the form it was requested by the Appellant. It was added that the first appeal pertaining to a different RTI application was annexed by the Appellant in the Second Appeal filed by the Appellant before the CIC. The CIC observed that the reply provided by the PIO was not exhaustive and the reasons provided during the hearing should have been mentioned therein. The CIC directed the PIO to re-examine the RTI application and provide a revised reply to the Appellant offering him an inspection of available records on a mutually convenient date and time and giving the reasons why complete information cannot be provided. The Appellant was also cautioned to ensure that correct documents pertaining to the specific case are chronologically attached with the Second Appeals/ Complaints filed before the CIC henceforth.
Comments
The PIO must ensure that the reply sent by him is complete and is self-explanatory. Incomplete or non-specific replies may end in an appeal wasting precious time of the CIC, the appellant, and the public authority.
Citation: Shri Rohit Sabharwal v. Ministry of Home Affairs in Second Appeal No. CIC/MHOME/A/2020/140086, Date of Decision: 26.04.2022
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 (1)
At least in 2024, Rahul has no chance. If he changes his style of working he can be a PM candidate only in 2029.
V N Chari
DEBATE(2)
Narendra Modi is liked by crores of people across the country. He is much ahead.
V K Jain
Request for filling up posts of Members CAT Gauhati Bench
I request the Prime Minister of India, the CJI of the Supreme Court of India, and the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court to look into the matter for early filling up of the posts of Members of CAT, Gauhati Bench.
Bimal Banik

DEBATE (1)
As long as Modi is at the helm of power BJP is there and as long as Rahul Gandhi is at the helm of affairs in Congress the party can never come to power.
Rajgopal
ICS Association lives on
Interesting news from Whispers! Anyone interested in public administrations in India needs to study the role of ICS to get a perspective. The British given their propensity for understatement say ‘They served India well’. Sardar Patel wanted to maintain the "steel frame" and modeled IAS after ICS. Even better than David Gilmour's book The Ruling Caste, is Phillip Woodruff's book The Men who Ruled India. The book tells us the story of the colonial period from ‘the other side’. While most people in India might have read the ‘national’ version of the British Raj story, this book gives an interesting counterpoint, which must be added to the mix to get a complete picture. The book gives an insider’s view on the way our land revenue system was formed – which, with minor changes, remains the same even today. One comes to know about the effort and application of mind put in forming the whole administrative and legal framework of the country, and then one understands why, despite 75 years of Independence, we are still unable to find viable ‘swadeshi’ alternatives to the same. Most importantly, it shows how a few good men can transform anarchy into stability, peace, and progress if their hearts are in the right place.
Prof N C Saxena

DEBATE (1)
Rahul Gandhi V/s Modi in 2024, Rahul Gandhi cannot make it as he doesn't have a solution to the hate and divisive politics of BJP and RSS imbibed into our political system. Irony is despite inflation and a high degree of unemployment, and destructive economy, voters are still in sleep mode. India is under destructive mode like Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Harish Kumar
DEBATE (2)
That is the best thing to happen for BJP.
D V K Singh
Revenue growth hurdles
As against mandate of collecting revenue, nowadays, Azadi Ka Amrit like events are being organized and celebrated by the Revenue Department also outside office during normal working days hours frequently leaving behind efforts for revenue drives. Post covid situation there is spurt in large no. of official meetings /skill upgradation training programs through virtual mode webinars almost on every alternate day and same are mandatory to attend by majority of revenue officers . Sometimes webinars are organised one after another in single day itself. Afterward in balance available time , efforts are made for revenue growth/drive . It is good to celebrate AKAM events and attending webinars for skill upgradations in national interests but not at the cost of govt. revenue drive and its growth .That's too when revenue boards are facing acute shortages of field staff . All such staff need to be utilized efficiently for revenue drive /growth to achieve assigned targets. Events and webinars of national importance can be organised on Saturday or other Govt Holidays. It is ideal to conduct webinars after 8.30 p.m. only on Saturday /any govt holidays ( except Sunday) as revenue growth is extremely
S Bhatnagar

Copy of a Cabinet Note on the basis of which the decision was taken and certain OM regarding rate of dearness allowance was issued was denied claiming that the noting in the file/Cabinet Note in respect of revision of rate of DA is a secret document. The CIC observed that the PIO has not bothered to invoke any exemption clause of the RTI Act to deny the information or mentioned any reasoning which corresponds to any of the prescribed exemptions. Further, since the averred Cabinet Decision was final and matter was complete, the information could not have been withheld by the PIO. A show notice was issued to the PIO why penalty as prescribed under Section 20(1) of the RTI Act should not be imposed on him. During the hearing, the PIO was persistently depending upon his Section Officer to speak on his behalf and remained flustered throughout the course of the hearing but pleaded that his omission may be condoned this time. The CIC observed that the Cabinet note requested for by the Complainant does not even exist, which makes the question of ‘secrecy’ or applicability of Section 8(1)(i) of the RTI Act redundant. The CIC further observed that apparently, the CPIO has absolutely no knowledge about the provisions of the RTI Act as he denied the information by citing it as a ‘secret document’. The CIC severely admonished the PIO and issued a strict warning to ensure that he first acquaints himself well with the provisions of the RTI Act and secondly, he has to own up to his actions and be accountable for his replies under the RTI Act without having to rely on a subordinate officer to even speak on his behalf during a show-cause hearing.
Comments
Even after seventeen years of coming in force of the RTI Act, there are many officers who do not possess even rudimentary knowledge of the Act. Unless a PIO keeps himself abreast with the provisions of the RTI Act, errors may creep in resulting into imposition of penalty.
Citation: R. Rajasekharan v. Department of Expenditure in File No : CIC/DOEXP/C/2020/138545, Date of Final decision: 28.03.2022
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