Whispers Forum

The appellant sought data on customer satisfaction ratings for SBI services from its inception and other information. The PIO replied that the information is not compiled centrally in the ordinary course of business and not readily available in the material form. The collection of the information would disproportionately divert the resources of the Public Authority. Before the CIC, the respondent clarified that data sought vide the RTI application is not available in the desired format. The CIC held that in the absence of the appellant to plead his case or contest the CPIO’s submissions, there is scope of intervention in the matter and dismissed the appeal. The CIC brought it to the notice of the respondent that in a series of matters filed by the appellant against a different public authority i.e IDPL, in file nos. CIC/IDPCL/A/2024/612395 and CIC/IDPCL/A/2024/604666, an order was passed to veracity of the appellant’s BPL status. The respondent was advised to exercise due caution with respect to the future RTI application received from the appellant relying on his Below Poverty Line (BPL) status.
Comments
Some unscrupulous elements indulge in misuse of the RTI Act by making a false claim of BPL to obtain information without paying any fee. The Public Authority should train its PIO's to detect such individuals and deal with them in accordance with law.
Citation: Rachhpal Singh Saini v. State Bank of India, CIC/SBIND/A/2024/602064; Date of Decision: 22.05.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 79th Independence Day address emphasized India's commitment to self-reliance, technological advancement, and indigenous innovation
Self-Reliance and Technological Advancement
- Make in India: PM Modi stressed the importance of promoting domestic manufacturing, citing initiatives like the production of India's first semiconductor chip, expected to hit the market by the end of 2025.
- Technology-Driven Society:Modi highlighted that the 21st century is driven by technology, and nations that excel in tech achieve success. He emphasized the need for India to become a leader in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and deep-tech.
Energy Independence
- Solar Energy: India's solar energy capacity has increased 30 times in the last 11 years, with ongoing efforts to boost clean energy production.
- Nuclear Energy: PM Modi announced plans to increase nuclear energy capacity tenfold by 2047, with 10 new nuclear reactors currently operational.
- National Deepwater Exploration Mission: The government aims to tap ocean-based energy resources, exploring oil and gas reserves in the sea.
Economic Reforms and Job Creation
GST Reforms: Modi announced next-generation GST reforms, expected to reduce taxes on essential goods and provide relief to MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers.
Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: A new scheme providing direct financial support of ₹15,000 each to promote entrepreneurship, skill development, and self-reliance among young Indians.
Security and Defence
Operation Sindoor: PM Modi highlighted the success of Operation Sindoor, a recent security achievement showcasing India's commitment to safeguarding its interests.
Military Modernization: The government plans to develop advanced weapon systems, including the Mission Sudarshan Chakra, to enhance India's strategic defence capabilities.
Nuclear Threats: Modi asserted that India will not tolerate nuclear threats or blackmail, emphasizing the country's stance on national security.
Vision for a Developed India
Viksit Bharat 2047: PM Modi outlined his vision for a developed India by 2047, emphasizing the need for self-reliance, technological advancement, and economic growth.
Youth Empowerment: Modi appealed to the youth to contribute to India's mission of national transformation, highlighting initiatives like the Gaganyaan mission and India's own space station.
Shruti Khanna

Greetings to everyone on this Special Independence Day 2025 ! The real India has emerged, symbolised by the Iron Pillar at the Kutub Minar complex, a living wonder of ancient India’s metallurgical technology. The aggressors ruined the Dharma Kshetra but failed to destroy the pillar and were themselves buried deep, the New India has destroyed the infamous Lutyens Gang. They have treated citizens with horrible contempt (hikarat ki nazar se), ruining a fragile democracy in the twentieth century. Today India stands as the new superpower actively contributing in all areas including politics, economics, foreign policy, defence, manufacture, finance, public service and transparent government. Even Donald Trump, whose Deep state, has been charging their batteries daily, can learn a lot. A small step not to open the farm/dairy/fisheries sector has destroyed their conspiracies in the name of the “farmers/kisan”. Kisan/farmers’ land acquired for public purpose was misused and distributed amongst themselves for Farm Houses (one/two/hundreds/thousands?). This Independence Day we are proud of India as a Great Nation. Jai Bharat !
M L Gupta

Rahul Gandhi recently accused the Election Commission of India and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 General election and recent state assembly elections. He claimed that over 100,250 duplicate voters were found in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bengaluru Central, Karnataka. The Election Commission responded by asking Gandhi to submit a signed declaration under oath to substantiate his allegations, which Gandhi refused, stating that his public statements should suffice. The controversy has sparked a political storm, with the BJP dismissing Gandhi's claims as "misleading".
Rahul Garg

Flash floods tore through an ecologically fragile region of Dharali in Uttarkashi district of Uttrakhand on August 5,2025.At least, 100 persons are reported missing (largely Bihari and Nepali labourers),four killed,150 rescued.Worse,hundreds of buildings,shops, hotels and makeshift dwellings were destroyed with phone and power lines snapped.The army,as always,started rescue operations within 15 minutes, much ahead of SDMA/ NDMA teams’ arrivals.
Administrative machinery is lax. Instead of distributing food items,candles,drinking water etc, it is giving compensation cheques of Rs 5,000/to each household,knowing fully well that grocery stores,banks etc have been destroyed with no cooking facilities.The public is restless and extremely agitated.
What led to disaster?Experts suspect a glacier collapse or glacial lake breach, not a cloudburst. Heavy rainfall resulted in landslides,forcing ice,stone and mud into rivers flowing down with massive momentum.It would be simplistic to call it a natural disaster.It was man-made.
Surprisingly, no one is raising concerns about the unregulated, unauthorized construction of four-storeyed hotels,shops and other buildings on riverbeds in especially along the rivers and its tributaries causing calamities year-after-year.Tourism promotion,as always, took precedence over ecological considerations; deforestation carried out with impunity without addressing environmental concerns.Were impact assessment studies conducted before according environmental clearances?If,so,with what results?
The national green tribunal had issued directives for demarcation of flood plains zones and removal of encroachment.But, the local PWD engineers and senior bureaucrats turned a Nelson’s eye under pressure of infrastructure push.
A judicial enquiry must be ordered.Strict action be taken against builders’mafia,delinquent bureaucrats and engineers who deserve exemplary punishments for allowing encroachments .Going further,the political class cannot be given a clean chit. It will also have much to explain.The bureauctatic-builders-political nexus must be broken. Failure to do so would mean the authorities are complicit.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The appellant sought information about implementation of the Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunal (PB), New Delhi asking for the pay fixed, Date of enhancement of the rate of pay and other related information about fellow officers. The PIO denied information under Sec 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act informing that the information sought is a classified information which also include personal information of third party and disclosure of such information has no relationship to any public activity ог interest. The appellant submitted before the CIC that the Hon’ble CAT, vide order dated 31.05.2023 has passed an order in his favour in which the Respondent were directed to extend the similar benefits as granted to the Applicants in O.A. No. 1981/1996, in term of the directions contained in order dated 03.06.2002, if they are similarly situated and otherwise eligible and that is why he needs this information to compare his case with similarly placed employees. The Appellant highlighted that there is a big difference in the amount that has been paid to him as compared to others. The PIO informed that several correspondence were made to IHQ of MoD (Army) in the similarly placed case as well as in the instant case regarding non-feasibility towards convening review DPC for re-fixing the seniority in the lower grades at this belated stage without any requisite documentss. The CIC ruled that exemption under Section 8 (1) (j) of the RTI Act is not available and directed the PIO to revisit the contents of the RTI Application and provide a revised reply along with requested information.
Comments
To differentiate between personal information and public activity, the CIC relied upon the judgement passed by the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka in case titled A.S. Mallikarjunaswamy vs. SIC & Ors., W.P. No. 23695 of 2022 dated 22.08.2023.
Citation: Rama Nand Prabhakar v. AOC Records, PIN - 900453, C/o 56 APO; CIC/ARMHQ/A/2024/605929; Date of Decision: 23.05.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

For India, China was not an enemy from 1949. It was considered a “brotherly neighbour”. Indian polity’s sentiments were grossly misunderstood by China, which turned in to an enemy in 1962. Since then, it had not taken India seriously, until Galvan taught it the desired lesson that it was another India than what it had met in 1962. Meanwhile it went on chasing its expansionist pursuits, ignoring the drastic changes which had taken place in geopolitics. Marxism had died, Maoism was reduced to mere history, capitalism was freely engaging with communist countries like China for trade and the Chinese were consuming Coca cola and Pepsi with gay abundance. The Chinese had physically moved out of the captivity of the state and seen the world for the first time. They had turned aspirational. The Indian Operation Sindoor changed China & President Xi Jinping forever. It realised the need to improve relations with India. Xi Jinping had withdrawn himself in to seclusion after Operation Sindoor, because it’s weapons proved so horribly useless in the 3-day operation against Pakistan, hurting its image as a super military power. Its weapons market suffered hugely. Xi Jinping was personally investigating the causes of failure of its weapons in Pakistan and the true state of the Chinese military industrial capabilities. He was not seen in any public function for weeks until Foreign Minister, Dr S Jaishankar met President Xi Jinping on 15th July 2025 during the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting. China today needs India. If China corrects its approach to India and builds friendly relations in the coming months, it will unsettle America under Donald Trump. China must understand that fighting neighbours is no good policy; it only helps America and Europe to aggravate conflicts and harm the economies of these countries. Pakistan has no future. It may break any day. Bangladesh stands ruined. India-China-Russia (ICR Group) promises a New World Order.
M L Gupta

Rahul Gandhi and Controversy go hand in hand. His name often sparks controversy in Indian politics.
Allegations of Vote Theft: Rahul Gandhi claimed that over 1 lakh votes were stolen in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of Karnataka's Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, sparking a heated debate. The Election Commission of India refuted these claims, calling them "misleading".
Arun Jaitley Threat Allegation: Rahul Gandhi alleged that the late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley threatened him over farm laws, which BJP leaders strongly denied, pointing out Jaitley's passing in 2019 before the laws were introduced.
-Defamation Cases: Rahul Gandhi faces multiple defamation cases, including one for his comments on people with the surname "Modi" being thieves, and another for alleging the RSS killed Mahatma Gandhi.
Malegaon Blast Case: Rahul Gandhi dodged questions on the Malegaon blast case verdict, instead focusing on economic and defense policies.
These incidents showcase the contentious nature of Rahul Gandhi's statements and actions in the public sphere.
Rita Jain

Trump’s slapping 25% tariff on Indian goods with additional, unspecified penalty for energy imports from Russia,is most reprehensible especially when several western nations had,till recently, imported natural gas (PNG) from Russia.No tariff was imposed on them. The US’s latest salvo is threat to raise the tariff on India “very substantially over the next 24 hours”,labelling Indian and Russian economies as “dead economies”.
Enough is enough.India should not bow to the US’s pressure tactics and must respond stoutly to the threat in a firm,determined and courageous manner. In this connection, India’s plan to offset Trump’s tariffs,by launching its Rs 20,000 crores Export Promotion Mission for carrying out reforms by way of providing reliefs to exporters,diversify export destination, improve ease of exporting etc , is a praiseworthy decision.
India is independent in pursuing its national interests, assert strategic autonomy and for choosing trading partners to meet its energy security needs. Unarguably, importing crude oil from Russia at heavily discounted rates,is justified in the given situation. Procuring it from other countries will mean higher transportation cost leading to inflation in the country.
The US should not dictate terms as this will escalate global tension. For India, having enduring relationships with other countries,cannot be questioned ; but,not at the cost of its self prestige.
Let India walk its own path disregarding arm-twisting.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

Yes, it is a welcome step if the Anti Defection Law is overhauled in fact, making difficult for politicians to defect to other parties. They are fooling the voters and defect to whichever party they like. This should be stopped at once at any cost so that future of our country is in safe hands, in a transparent democratic way of electing the candidates by the people. It sends a strong message too
Ramesh
Strike and Indian Tax official
Apart from being the most corrupt in India, lower officials in Income Tax are always on strike. Even then, no one from Group C or D has ever been given compulsory retirement under 56j. Higher officers continue to play their fiddle like Nero while Rome burns. No wonder the citizenry is suffering silently.
Vijay Kumar