Whispers Forum

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

A timely reply had not been provided by the University to the applicant, which is a grave violation of the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005. A show - cause notice was issued by the CIC for imposition of penalty. The CIC observed that the RTI Application is addressed to Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra (formerly known as Agra University), which is a State University under the control of the State Government, and dropped the proceedings.
Comments
Section 20 of the RTI Act reads, “Where the Central Information Commission or the State Information Commission, as the case may be, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that …” which implies that the jurisdiction of the CIC is limited to the central public authorities. Hence, a second appeal against the state government public authorities cannot be filed to the CIC.
Citation: Kaushal Agarwal v. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra in Complaint No. CIC/BBAUV/C/2017/178310, Date of decision: 08.07.2022.
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

The Government has taken many welcome steps to reduce the number of disputes relating to the Income-tax Department. To solve the still huge backlog of income tax cases in various appellate forums, it may further be desirable to (a) increase the number of adjudicating officers on the faceless Appellate side, and (b) make the ITAT faceless as soon as possible so that the benefits of faceless adjudication can accrue at this level also, (c) bring in another scheme for dispute resolution on the lines of earlier VSVS.
Vijay Kumar
The cadre of Ruchi transferred to Karnataka
Hope she will do her best for my beautiful state of Karnataka.
K Srinivasa Rao

I can't agree more than what Arvind M has stated. Centre and state has no rapport since 2014. BJP is being run by RSS stalwarts in the background. The ruling dispensation leader is running the system as a king, and the selection of a Presidential candidate is evidence of it. Centre has only two agendas, one how to win elections and two how to install governments in states through horse-trading. Common man welfare is missing; opposition is being scared or killed through terror created by so many agencies. India turning into anarchy.
Harish Kumar

Respectfully disagree with the comments of a long-time contributor A K Saxena on the judiciary needing to protect itself. In his views, he has contemptuously referred to those who criticized the Honourable Judges' comments are "trolls" which is not correct. Coming to the views themselves: As regards oral observations not finding place in the Order itself, it is not relevant at all because the comments WERE made and WERE REPORTED widely. Coming from the Highest Court, naturally, people would pay attention to them and if they consider them out of place, would give their opinion. The comments made by the Judges were completely out of place because the Petition was for clubbing several FIRs, which should have been simply ordered considering past judgments and sound principles. As to the judiciary remaining passive spectators, surely they can give their own point of view on appropriate occasions which the particular hearing was not. And finally, just as other arms of the Constitution are accountable, the Judiciary too is accountable. A more urgent need is to finalize Judicial Accountability Legislation.
N Ramu

One of the Applicants for the post of Associate Professor who was not selected by the committee sought the copy of the minutes of the selection committee. The Respondent submitted that details of other candidates along with the name of the members of the averred selection committee is there in the minutes of the selection committee which is personal information of third party exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. Upon being queried by the CIC to establish the larger public interest while seeking such sort of information, the appellant could not provide a cogent reply. The CIC observed that adequate reply has been given by the Respondent and upheld the same. The CIC further observed that the Appellant has made use of such intemperate and defaming words such as ‘you are biased’ while communicating with the CIC which were viewed adversely. The Appellant was cautioned to be careful and mindful while choosing his words.
Comments
An appellant should refrain from making baseless allegations and instead focus on seeking information. The appeal should be drafted professionally and baced on facts rather than emotions.
Citation: Hari Baksh v. Central University of Tamil Nadu in Second Appeal No. CIC/CUOTN/A/2021/108486, Date of Decision: 16.06.2022
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