Whispers Forum

The influence of Indians is increasing in many countries of the world including America and Europe. In countries like America, Britain, Canada, Mauritius and Seychelles, Indians have come to a position to influence the results of elections. In Britain, Rishi Sunak had also become the Prime Minister. It seems that now it is America's turn. In the US presidential election, the Democratic Party has chosen Kamala Harris as its candidate for the post of President. Kamala Harris's mother was a South Indian scientist. Kamala Harris is proud of her Indian mother. She was the Vice President in Joe Biden's administration.
Aditya Kumar

A recent controversy has emerged over the labelling of meals as "Hindu" and "Muslim" on Vistara Airlines flights, leading to heated discussions on social media. The issue was brought to light by a female passenger who voiced her concerns about the airline's food labelling practices. The controversy has highlighted a larger conversation about cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in global aviation standards. As social media continues to amplify passenger experiences and grievances, it remains to be seen whether airlines and regulatory bodies will move towards revising and modernising these long-established codes to better align with contemporary societal values.
Raj Ahirwar

Kind attention to Hon'ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare "It is dark under the lamp" an old proverb seems to be true in the present case. All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Delhi is premier institution of Ayurveda under the aegis of Ministry of AYUSH. It is an autonomous body parallel to AIIMS. Nowadays sr. citizens/super sr. citizens specially CGHS beneficiaries are following alternative systems of medicines and take treatment in ayurveda hospitals. Many ayurveda centres have been empanelled under CGHS and cashless facilities are available to CGHS pensioners. It is a big relief to pensioners taking a cashless facility as indoor patients otherwise it is impossible to make payment first and take reimbursement after submitting MRC form to the concerned wellness centre. At the age of 70+ it is beyond reach. Even in AIIMS the cashless facility is available to CGHS beneficiaries and even separate windows are available for sr. citizens to make the consultation easy. In AIIA cashless facility is not available to CGHS beneficiaries as an indoor patient whereas the cashless facility is available in many private empanelled ayurveda hospitals. It is missing from the apex institute of ayurveda directly under the Ministry of AYUSH. In absence of cashless facility to indoor patients for CGHS beneficiaries is limiting the treatment of CGHS beneficiaries. It is submitted to the Hon'ble Minister for health and family welfare to please consider the cashless facilities to CGHS beneficiaries for indoor treatment in AIIA like AIIMS. AIIA to be placed at par with AIIMS in all respects. No different treatment to AIIA as far as indoor treatment to CGHS beneficiaries is concerned. Submitted for kind consideration and favourable decision.
Naveen

I hope that he uses foreign experience effectively. Banks losing deposits is a concern. He has to keep eyes on NPA, Jandhan a/c holders, privatisation of Insurance Cos./Banks, banks net profit or NIM, unproductive ATMs, Public Grievances, Banks merger, NBFCs UCBs and others, RR Banks sponsored by Banks, coordinate with Cooperative Ministry on Banks, digitalization, misselling of insurance products, governance in Banks and keeping them world class, Banks following national and global norms, health insurance expansion and checking exploitation, empower top leaderships in financial sectors, more NRI PIO investors.
Srinivasan Shankar
RTI
Sir, You may continue to write good things about RTI but the painful emerging fact is that the political class and bureaucracy have taken all possible steps to remove the sting out of the Act. Without any effective deterrence, accountability cannot be enforced especially in an opaque system like ours. It is not to say that there is no impact of the RTI Act, but the positive impact is minimal. Pro-active disclosure is very little and the departments continue to work at a slow pace.
Kushagra Kumar

I hope that he uses foreign experience effectively. Banks losing deposits is a concern. He has to keep eyes on NPA, Jandhan a/c holders, privatization of Insurance Cos./Banks, banks net profit or NIM, unproductive ATMs, Public Grievances, Banks merger, NBFCs UCBs and others, RR Banks sponsored by Banks, coordinate with Cooperative Ministry on Banks, digitalization, misselling of insurance products, governance in Banks and keeping them world class, Banks following national and global norms, health insurance expansion and checking exploitation, empower top leaderships in financial sectors, more NRI PIO investors.
Srinivasan Shankar
RTI
Sir, You may continue to write good things about RTI but the painful emerging fact is that the political class and bureaucracy have taken all possible steps to remove the sting out of the Act. Without any effective deterrence, accountability cannot be enforced specially in an opaque system like ours. It is not to say that there is no impact of the RTI Act, but the positive impact is minimal. Pro-active disclosure is very little and the departments continue to work at a slow pace.
Kushagra Kumar

CBDT Income tax department has done remarkable job processing 3.92 crores return of AY 2024-25 in less than 15 days as per media report. 4.98 crores return AY 2024-25 have already been processed out of 7.28 returns filed till 21st August, 2024. With this momentum it will take another 15 days to complete the processing of all returns filed for AY 2024-25. This is really excellent work by IT department. The proof of pudding is in the eating i.e. the picture will be clear in the first week of September, 2024 when all returns filed for AY 2024-25 are processed and refunds are issued. The tax collection has increased to 20 lakh crores and now focus should be shifted to increase the tax base. It is not investor-friendly to burden the taxpayers only. Last year the average time to issue a refund order was less than 10 days. Too much natty gritty in processing the ITR returns is not tax payers friendly at least in case of pensioners and salaried class. If six parameters are matched the returns can be processed without any riders. Six parameters are, TDS deducted as per 26AS, salary/pension receipt as per Form 16, S/B interest as per AIS, FD interest as per AIS, other income as per AIS, dividend income as per AIS. Other income such as STCG, LTCG can be seen as calculated by the assessor instead of relying on the information from third party. It will reduce the trust deficit between taxpayers and tax administration. Wishing all the best for completing the returns and issue of refunds by first week of September, 2024 for AY 2024-25.
Naveen
Arun Yadav can revive Congress in MP
The man with uncredited stars for the victory of 2018 Vidhan Sabha election. The potential and resourceful politician of congress @mparunyadav can revive the organisation. Most reliable and credible person to his congress workers, he has the ability to bring the congress in the power in M.P.
P Singh

The appellant sought to know the number of times Dr C Balasubramanian MS (ENT), Professor cum HOD, Dept of ENT, Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital was invited for conducting MS / DNB in Otorhinolaryngology postgraduate exams in all of the medical colleges affiliated under Pondicherry University during the academic year 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. The appellant alleged that there is an unwarranted and unethical practice of taking money for passing the candidates in PG clinical exams by the examiner is a clear violation of P.G. Medical Education Regulations, 2000. The information was denied under Section 8(1)(e), (g) and (j) of the RTI Act. The Respondent submitted that irrespective of the fact that the Appellant has only sought for number of times the examiner was invited, the same cannot be provided in view of Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act, particularly in the backdrop of the Appellant’s allegation claiming several malpractices on the part of the averred third party in the preface to the RTI query. The CIC held that even though it is not disputed that the Appellant has only sought to know the “number of times” a third party has been invited as an examiner for conducting MS / DNB in Otorhinolaryngology postgraduate exams, but being a service matter of that third party, exempt u/s 8(1)(j). The CIC further held that Section 8(1)(g) is also appropriate in view of allegations levelled by the Appellant.
Comment
The denial of information under section 8(1)(j) is strange as the number of times a person has joined as examiner on official duty can hardly be called as personal information of either the individual or the university. The applicability of 8(1)(g) is stranger as no harm to the physical safety can be alleged on the wildest stretch of imagination.
Citation: Er Sureshkumar Jeyakumar v. Pondicherry University, CIC/PONDU/A/2023/101007; Date of Decision: 29.04.2024
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

Specialists as Secretaries: we should agree with suggestions of Col VK Gupta that professional ministries like Health, MOHUA, MEITY, DOT etc. should be headed by a SPECIALIST Secretary who is a Doctor, Civil Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Telecom Engineer from Indian Medical Service, Indian Engineering Service or from corporate sector etc instead of simple graduates from Arts, Science, Commerce, etc.
Bharath
Swap the roles of Gadkari and Fadnavis
Swap the roles of Gadkari and Fadnavis in MH. Gadkari is the senior most and resourceful. In good books with SP & UBT. Shinde, SP and UBT have channelized all anger against Fadnavis. Removing him from MH alone would reduce most of the anti incumbency.
Nitesh

Yes. Bangladesh should be broken down into North and South. The South should be allocated to Muslims and the North should be allocated to the Hindus. The North can then be merged with India. This will address both the issues. First, The Hindu-Muslim tension in Bangladesh and econd, India's chicken's neck problem.
Shivraj
Hindus being made victims
There is an attempt to hide Brutality on Hindus. They are being pushed under the carpet, villages homes and businesses are being looted. Especially Hindu women have become an easy target and no one to hear their voices
Atulya Singh

I am a regular reader of your news in whispers in corridors since its inception and have seen it grow to such a top read site. My appreciation for your authentic news and best prediction.
I am a nationalist and want my country to be ruled firmly but the interests of the common man should always be kept in mind. Unfortunately few top Echelons have hijacked the control from all capable professionals, technocrats , scientists and Defence personnel. Bureaucrats are behaving in a self centered manner claiming cream benefits for themselves and denying the same to most others. This is causing heartburn and disgruntlement in masses. Why not have Indian Medical Services, rather than having some graduates doing administration of health services.
Why not have a 5 star General as CDS so that 4 star Generals are able to function better, retired Lt General can never carry the same authority as serving 5 star General. Bureaucrats have a tendency to deny and delay every perk and privilege of others, especially soldiers. By creating disparity and delay in OROP they have brought highly disciplined decorated veterans to lock horns with the establishment which should have never been done. Eighth pay commission should have been announced and timely payment assured to avoid frustration. 18 months DA/Dr could have been paid as earnings of the government have increased far above their expectations but this will only be given once all disgruntled employees, farmers , veterans , unemployed youth create ruckus as in Bangladesh . Opposition is waiting for such an opportunity to create unrest. Mr Salman Khurshid and union leaders are openly warning but not being taken seriously. Can you do something to avoid unrest in my country?
Best wishes and warm regards
Col V K Gupta