Whispers Forum

I fully agree with ML Gupta views expressed on 370 in J&K on recent happenings or decisions. I must add that it is high time that all 29 states and 9 Union Territories must be declared as States, this job can be done by the Electoral Reforms Committee appointed by the Government of India recently. All Central and State Elections are held once in 5 years, also both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Elections, State Elections be held once in 5 years with uniformity of tenure. Rajya Sabha members can be elected by direct elections or by State Assembly & Lok Sabha Members within one month of elections. Of course the committee doing this job will better do some research work before arriving at any conclusions in the interest of India's democracy. Nomination system dispensing with & uniform tenure for Rajya Sabha is a must for India now.
Harish Kumar

I have been an account holder in State Bank of India since many years in branches in different parts of the country and in the last 15 years I am operating from the same branch. So I was astounded when I received SMS this morning (02 Sept 2023) informing that STOP has been put on my account. I was advised to visit the branch concerned to know the reason and to do whatever I am asked to do. The executive at the bank explained that mine is a very old account opened many years ago and the Bank is updating your records. She asked me take an account opening form, fill it furnishing all the details asked, attach copies of PAN card, adhaar card etc and submit. After updating the details the hold will be lifted. I wanted to tell her that I have been regularly updating my KYC details which are available with the branch. She just smiled and said these are instructions from the top, Sir. Just fill the form and bring it to me. Of course after dealing with SBI for over thirty years I knew better than to pick up an argument and came away. While filling the new account opening form I was astounded that I had to furnish the maiden name of not only myself but my wife, our religion, caste etc. I never had a maiden name! but why ask for religion, caste etc. Will someone from SBI care to respond.
Raghavan

Coaching creates civil servants ; their pre-induction training makes them arrogant. Worse, their final appointment makes them pliable to the political class.
Why not merge the existing organised civil services with a new UPSC-recruited service called the "Indian political service" ? Let them be trained together (pre-induction and in-service) for achieving greater synergy and creating a more effective public services delivery mechanism.
The modern Indian civil servants have immeasurable capacity to gel with politicians of all hues.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

Marks secured Marks secured in Written Exam and interview were sought by a candidate. The PIO informed that the marks of candidates whose candidature has been cancelled have not been provided/ uploaded on the Commission’s website. Since, the candidature of the RTI applicant for the said exam has been cancelled, the information sought cannot be provided as per the UPSC policy. On second appeal, the CIC held that since the Appellant has sought for his own marks and has applied for the same under the RTI Act, the reason cited by the CPIO for denying the same is not in compliance with the provisions of the RTI Act.
Comments
As per Section 19(5) of the RTI Act, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the PIO. Relying on UPSC policy to deny an information to a candidate whose candidature is cancelled is not tenable under the RTI Act as Section 22 grants overriding powers to the Act over any other statute.
Citation: Amit Turan v. Union Public Service Commission, CIC/UPSCM/A/2022/658298; 07/08/2023
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

The constitution defines India as a ‘union of States’. What is the significance? Why not a dominion? Could it be a union of dominions or a federation of dominions? Could it be both a union of states and dominions? The question assumes great significance in the context of Art370/35A. Where was the need to adopt an extra constitutional mechanism to surreptitiously insert the definition of a dominion under Art35A without using the word? Why make the ‘territory’ of India Indian and J&K? Is territory of a sovereign nation divisible? It is precisely what the Art 35A does. It makes, in effect, J&K a dominion within the union of India, where writ of the Union of India does not automatically run, where a separate constitution, flag etc was permitted as in a dominion. Whose brain was it? India's leadership of the time can’t be credited with such brilliance: it was exclusively the British diplomatic brain deciding the most critical decision for its “commonwealth”. For 75 years they have harvested rich crops in the name of J&K. They want Art370/35A restored! In all respects, it was a conspiracy from which the people of India generally, and Sardar Patel especially, were kept uninformed by choice. It surprises many that Law colleges/universities never held any debate on such an important subject. Debates on national issues were common, the lead being taken by communists, progressives, liberals, academicians et al. A treachery executed stealthily. It was designed for some other select parts too but frustrated by Sardar Patel. Yet, something British perversity still holds! The debate in the SC is watched with keen interest but without any clue to these aspects.
M L Gupta