Whispers Forum

There is no doubt that the train services have improved a lot in recent years and the introduction of Vande Bharat Trains shows we can enjoy comforts and luxuries at par with railway passengers of advanced nations. But why no attention is paid to the masses travelling in unreserved classes as well as in passenger trains. For them the train journey is no less than a nightmarish experience. Why can't we have at least 2 or 3 unreserved bogies in trains instead of just one? Are all the comforts for the rich class?
Nitika Tripathi

Bankura University has invited application for the recruitment of Special Lecturers on a purely temporary basis in the Physics Department. The required minimum qualification is M.Sc in Physics with NET or PhD. The selected candidates will be required to teach four lectures per week with a remuneration of -believe it or not- Rs 300 per lecture amounting to Rs4800 per month! Even a domestic maid even in Bankura has to be paid more than this for working for two hours a day. If this is how teachers with PhD degree are treated is there any wonder why education quality is so pathetic in India! Will someone bring this to the attention of the CM of Bengal?
Raghavan

The CBSE has reportedly decided to remove several chapters on the medieval history and political science syllabii of Classes 11 and 12 by the NCERT.
Deletion of medieval history will rob it of its consistency and continuity deleting rise of Islamic empires in Afro-Asian territories, the chronicles of Mughal courts and industrial revolution.
Who will worship Shankaracharya, Guru Nanak , Islamic sufi saints ,Surdas,Tulsidas and several great saints of south India,where Bhakti movement actually originated during the medieval period?
If, the decision makers feel that this initiative will fast-track converting secular India into a " a theocratic state", they are sadly mistaken. Is this a prelude to making India a Hindu Rashtra?
Is this not anti-Constitutional? Secularism is a part of the Preamble.
A regressive, retrograde, divisive and a misguided step triggered by the sense of misadventurism.
I would urge our Prime minister to re-visit the sensitive decision and ponder over it after consulting the stakeholders.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

In response to a request for information pertaining to the appointment of outsourced manpower, the PIO requested the appellant to visit the office for inspection. Thereafter, the appellant conducted the inspection and the relevant documents were given by the PIO on 29.11.2021. The CIC concurred with the submissions of the PIO that the copies of all the complaints received by the respondent’s office cannot be provided as it may contain certain personal information, therefore, it is barred from disclosure under section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The CIC also concurred with the submissions of the PIO that the documents submitted by the firm during the tender process cannot be put in public domain as it is third party information. The CIC held that the copy of the contract containing terms and conditions of the tender once finalized can be provided to the appellant as it is not barred from disclosure under Section 8(1)(d) of the RTI Act.
Comments
A copy of the contract containing terms and conditions of the tender can be provided after the award of the tender subject to taking recourse to the provisions of Section 10 of the RTI Act, 2005. All the sensitive and personal information, if any, should be severed after giving a notice to the third party.
Citation: Rajat Narayan v. Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), File no.: - CIC/CRRID/A/2022/615059; Date of Decision: 15/03/2023
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