Whispers Forum

Never, in the past ,have I seen India more divided against itself, than at present. Paradigm shift is taking place in the collective ethos of the country .
Sample some disturbing trends.
Increasing Hindu-muslim animosity, arrogance of power by different political parties and their lapdogs, no rule of law, communal harmony descending into violence,religeous polarisation, failure of governance, widening poor-rich divide, decision-making in collusion with big industrial houses despite conflicts of interests, failure of intelligence in preventing terror attacks. and identifying terror modules etc.The list is illustrative, not comprehensive.
Can we call ourselves proud indians in such circumstances?
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Central Consumers Protection Society (CCPA) has issued guidelines on July 4 debarring restaurants and hotels from levying service charges ‘automatically or by default. The order on the face of it appeared not very reasonable as the service charges were collected in lieu of tips for distribution among the serving staff waiters, stewards, and cooking staff. In the name of protection of consumers, we were depriving these people of this extra income to supplement their wages. As expected, the Association of Restaurants owners challenged these orders in Delhi High Court which stayed these guidelines from CCPA. In the meantime, while some of the establishments (at least one I know which irregularly patronize) did stop collecting service charges in the food bill but they promptly raised the prices of all items on the Menu by 10%. I wonder whether the extra money they are collecting by way of higher prices would be distributed among the staff or go into their own kitty. Further now with the High Court ruling against the order not to levy service charges these establishments are free to levy the consumer will have to pay more service charges as the rates have been enhanced. Instead of protecting consumers, this order of CCPA has put an additional burden on the consumers. Will CCPA now intervene and tell all those who increased the rates by 10% to roll back the increase in prices.
Aarti Khosla

This is not the CMD Post. This is the post of the Chairman of NABARD. The Chairman and the Managing Director Posts are clearly defined in NABARD Act 1981. MD post remained vacant since Dr. KG Karmakar retired. The ED posts are also not filled up. The Chairman Post is equivalent to the Deputy Governor of RBI /Secretary GoI. At the start, it is one of the Dy Governor of RBI holding this post of Chairman. Hence please make correction in your scroll as the Chairman only. Thanks. I am a subscriber of Whispersinthecorridor and thanks once again.
K Balakrishnan

The Appellant sought information from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University about a college. The PIO submitted that the said college has been disaffiliated in the year 2015. The CIC interjected and remarked that the Appellant is seeking information of the averred college prior to the year 2015 in the instant RTI Application. The CIC ruled that the information pertains to the rules related to the fee structure of different courses of the averred college prior to the year 2015 and denying the same under the garb of third party information is completely unwarranted and admonished the Respondent for the same. The CIC directed the Respondent to provide a relevant, categorical and point-wise revised reply to the Appellant.
Comments
If an organisation ceases to be a public authority on a particular date, the information for the prior period can still be sought under the RTI Act, 2005.
Citation: G R Nautiyal v. Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Second Appeal No. CIC/HNBGU/A/2021/107261, Date of Decision: 17.06.2022
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

All the officers of Central Secretariat Services get promotions i.e. Assistant Section Officer to Section Officer, Section Officer to Under Secretary, Under Secretary to Deputy Secretary, and Deputy Secretary to Director while the Senior Secretariat Assistant of Central Secretariat does not get the promotion. No one bothers about their plight. They are suffering but no one thinks about their future. They could not get their due from 15 years. They are facing injustices are:- (i) by implementing CSS Rule 2009, their promotion avenues reduced from 50% to 25% while the duration of services in the grade of SSA increased from 5 years to 10 years. 75% Vacancy for open examination was implemented from 2009 while 10% Departmental quota examinations were not held from 2009 to 2022. Benefits of the 2013 and 2018 Cadre Review were not extended for SSA so that they can get promotion to the ASO level.
Prabhaker
Dearness relief to State Govt Pensioners
May I request to predict when the finance dept will issue orders for dearness relief to state govt pensioners?
A Visitor

People vote a party to power so that it can ensure essential commodities at reasonable prices and pave the way for job opportunities. All these are not being done by the central Government. The prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing astronomically. A Govt led by AAP is giving some relief to the people to heave a sigh of relief from inflation. The Centre Government has levied/imposed GST on each and every service and product. In return, nothing is being given for the people. The Centre should provide free health and education. We have seen people moving from pillar to post for medical emergencies during the peak of COVID.
Suchi Rai

I fully agree with views expressed by Arti Khosla on Revadi culture in India or freebies. India has adopted so many different systems of world and mixed economy too has deviated now. India instead of learning from the Social Security System and unemployment benefit system has almost taken all the minus and negative points of the most advanced countries. It has given birth to a wide economic gap, where education is missing and health is most neglected due to least provisions in the budgetary allocations.
Harish Kumar

Prime Minister was absolutely right when while inaugurating the Bundelkhand Expressway, he spoke about the need to stop ‘Revadi’ culture (Freebies) to garner votes. Come election time and the parties promise to distribute free items like scooters, tablets to students, gold and kitchen appliances to women voters, free electricity, and whatnot. It is almost bribing the voters for votes. This should really stop as PM suggested but I wonder whether free rations do not come within the definition of 'Revadis'. In this matter, the ruling party is no exception.
Aarti Khosla

Whenever a new government takes charge, the CM should never begin to shift/transfer bureaucrats which is not a democratic move. They should realise that every bureaucrat had served loyally to the previous regime whilst in power and that should not be construed as a reason for a transfer. CM Shinde and DCM Fadnavis will gradually reward their own candidates with plumb postings as expected. Leave the bureaucrat alone and yes transfer them if loyalty is questionable. Show the difference and don't indulge in what politicians do generally. Good governance always doesn't mean that you have to transfer bureaucrats.
Ashok Menon