Whispers Forum

Summing up those times -a-historic Mahatma Gandhi alone understood the complex times that were faced by the few supporting him in fighting the British Empire for full freedom for India. Nehru was mostly not on the same page and Gandhi had written to Moti Lal Nehru about it in one of his letters. Bose and Gandhi differed on matters like Japan or China and Nehru on Non-violence propagated by Gandhi. Jinnah fell for the bait thrown by the British at him and destroyed communal harmony forever. Jinnah entered rather late after the Malabar incident and other communal movements including the Khilafat. It is no use underplaying the socio-religious realities of the times. Even Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya differed with Gandhi about “scientific scavenging”. But for the valuable and timely intellectual support of many personal friends of Gandhi, including Englishmen, the infighting of politicians, many were known to be terribly corrupt even then, and unfriendly press and British Hukmaran or bureaucrats, the freedom fight would not have its tryst with destiny or freedom at midnight. Talking about those GIANTS of our times irreverently is political blaspheme worthy of the innocents.
M L Gupta
Date with RTI
Disputes between couples is common and when one of the spouse comes up before the CIC with a list of demands, the RTI Act is on examination. Whether the demands are legitimate, has to be decided by the family court, not a forum under the RTI Act.
Sudhir Kumar Bajpai

The History of India would have been different if Gandhi had his way. This statement would gain weight only to the extent that Jinnah did not fill Cabinet with his cronies full of Muslims. If he had done that, what Nehru and Patel achieved would not be achievable for generations to come. We are better of with Nehru in helm of affairs even with his all short comings. He was a visionary. We are reaping all benefits of his policies even today. There was no Indian who could fill the gap left by the Britishers, he was the best available choice. Let us learn to forgive others for their mistake. Let us all not forget India is not India, but a Indian Subcontinent. The size with its population is really challenging then and even today.
S Meenakshi Sundaram
Prerogatives of State Govts tarnish glory of services many a times
It is very strange and beyond comprehension that senior bureaucrat (with all respect to bureaucracy) Sh Gupta IAS decorated as CS then dethroned but made principal advisor to CM , totally oxymoron that removal must have involved some cogent reasons and then these reasons become ambivalent . Such prerogatives of State Govts , many times tarnish the the glory of services . Recently in many states the CS like in Gujarat , Bihar and enormously and unfairly done in Maharashtra have been given long extensions (!without any malice ) thereby eclipsing the chances of many yet other bureaucrats who had also dreamt of becoming Chief Sec in their states if not cabinet Sec GOI ( May be not Empanelled as Sec GOI) but because of patronizing by existing State Govt , many find their fortunes rumbustious as of next in line lacks proclivity and fortitude . Such extensions should be properly vetoed by DOPT . If the extension is granted , the certitude of person on seat should be well vouched by the public at large and not confined to garrulous politicians to make the chagrins for successors by such malfeasances.
Mahendra Goel

Covid-19 has created crisis all over the country and people are scared even to come out for essential things. Due to unlock period, people are coming out in large numbers and cases are increasing but there is risk to the people of higher age group specially 70+ years. No. of advisories have been issued in this regard. There are many CGHS beneficiaries specially pensioners are still stuck away from their normal residence due to sudden announcement of lockdown in March 2020. The pensioners who are suffering from long term diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, kidney related ailments etc are continuing medicines prescribed by the medical specialist before lockdown as there is no way to consult CHS medical specialist or medical officers. In remote or small town city hospitals are unable to provide services due to corona related problems and has been designated Covid-19 hospitals. As a special dispensation reimbursement of OPD medicines prescribed by the medical specialist for long term treatment to be permitted at least upto October 2020 based on prescription issued before lockdown as CGHS beneficiaries pensioners are unable to return metro cities due to high risk in these areas and sharp rise in Corona cases. Minister of H&FW will consider this request favourably and permit the purchase of OPD medicines without raising any technical objections, A person stuck in small town where no CGHS facility is available and hardly any other availability of normal medical facility in such a Covid-19 situation to be treated differently. Normal rules should not take precedence over the special situation and special sanction to be given. Reimbursement cases should be looked into right perspective to provide help to CGHS beneficiaries specially pensioners, Ministry of Health & Family welfare to issue special order for such a situation to provide necessary help beneficiaries suffering from long term diseases and permit to purchase OPD medicines till October 2020 as Hon'ble PM has permitted free rations till November 2020.
Naveen
Railway for elimination of concession
Good. But will call for criticism from many fronts.
Alok Gupta

The Appellant sought information pertaining to service details of her husband, in terms of pay slip, last pay certificate etc. The information was denied under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The Appellant stated that she is not satisfied with the reply of the CPIO, as she continues to be the wife of the individual regarding whom information has been sought. She further stated that on sl. No. 4 of the document sought in the instant RTI Application “nomination for PRIC benefit AFGIS – 224” she has not affixed her finger print and the individual has got the finger print of some unknown person affixed on the same which amounts to fraud. The CIC directed the PIO to process the RTI Application as per the provision of Section 11 of RTI Act.
Comments
In the case of Vijay Prakash vs. Union of India (W.P. (C) 803/2009) dated 01.07.2009, it was held that in private disputes such as the present one between a husband and wife the basic protection afforded by virtue of the exemption from disclosure enacted under Section 8(1)(j) cannot be lifted. Further, the gross pay of an officer is liable to be disclosed under section 4(1)(b)(x) suo-motu under the RTI Act.
Citation: Chidipothu Sarada v. Indian Air Force in File No: CIC/IAIRF/A/2018/154519, Date of Decision : 10/06/2020
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

In the 1982 movie shot by Richard Attenborough, a Brit himself, the last one but scene shows Muhammad Ali Jinnah coming to meet Mahatma Gandhi some time before August 14, 1947. When Nehru and Patel try to talk to him, Jinnah snubbed them both saying “I have come to meet Bapuji and not you”. When Mahatma appears, he tells Jinnah, “Jinnah don’t divide India. You be the first Prime Minister of independent India.” Jinnah remains silent and looks at Nehru and Patel. Nehru tells Gandhi, “Please don’t do that. There will be a civil war in India. We cannot control the people.” Jinnah leaves the scene saying “I will have my Pakistan and you can have your Hindustan.” Jinnah’s silence to Mahatma’s offer was loud and clear. Mohamed Ali Jinnah lived for only another thirteen months as he died of tuberculosis on September 11, 1948. The history of India might have been different had Gandhi had his way.
The old Roman Maxim Divide et impera meant “Divide and Rule”. Lord Elphinstone declared this should be the policy of Britain. As noted by Shashi Tharoor in his article The British Game of Divide and Rule on August 10, 2017, Britain “liked drawing lines on maps of other countries. They did it in the Middle East after the First World War and did it again in India in 1947 when the partition led to killing of one million people, displacing 17 million people, looting and ruining homes Lines meant lives.”
Jinnah, the first Governor General of Pakistan was totally western in his dress and habits. He was clean shaven and loved his drink. In the afternoons, Jinnah used to drop in at the residence of the Indian High Commissioner Sri Prakasa for a drink. Jinnah told Shri Prakasa that he wanted to retain his sea-facing home on the Malabar Hill, South Court, in Bombay as he was looking forward to settling down in his home that he built brick by brick and he wanted Shri Nehru to rent out the party to either a British or American national who will maintain it well. Shri Prakasa asked Jinnah if he could put it in writing in a letter to Pandit Nehru, Jinnah said “yes.” Pandit Nehru obliged Jinnah. From Sri Prakasa’s account, it was evident Jinnah was visualizing Pakistan only as a separate State within the Indian Federation for Muslims but not as a separate country. Till a couple of years ago, the property was used as the Office of the Deputy British High Commissioner for India. Dina Wadia, Jinnah’s daughter wanted to inherit the property and the case is pending in the courts. Pakistan wants the property to house the Pakistani Consulate in Mumbai.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, however, did not accept a similar request from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who wanted to retain his flat on the Carmichael road off Peddar Road in Bombay. When he left India, Bhutto had two regrets. One, he could not retain his property in India. Two, he could not marry Actor Nargis who wanted to marry Raj Kapoor.
It was the British who sowed the seeds of hatred and hostility among the Hindus and Muslims in India which Mahatma understood very well. In fact, when Gandhi attended the Round Table Conference in London in 1931, he was shocked at the question put to him: “which India are you representing? the Hindu India, the Muslim India or the Princely States “which is captured by Richard Attenborough in the Gandhi movie.
It is significant that Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Kathiawar region) and the architect of the India that we have today, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel –all three hailed from Gujarat.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (TN; 1972)
Founder Chairman
Sri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel School for Monetary Economics, Chennai
Can’t the govt get educationists ?
Can’t the govt get educationists of repute to head these academic organisations. Blindly appointing bureaucrats to these types of posts does not augur well for the educational fraternity and it will lead to demoralisation. The govt should understand that because of lack encouragement and recognition in our country, very well qualified professionals in any field try their best to go abroad.
K Srinivas Rao
Congratulations !
Congratulations to you, Pawan Kumar Singh on joining as DDG(FS). Wish u good luck. May u progress a lot. Amrit Pal Sharma President Punjab state small savings agents association.
Amrit Sharma

This has been an extremely difficult year for one and all due to spread of corona virus. This led to total lockdowns of all coaching institutes across the country. The civil services aspirants have been the worst affected. Even the UPSC had to re-schedule all its exams including the most prestigious Civil Services Examination. A large number of aspirants could not return to home States due to lockdowns, curfews and suspension of different modes of transportation. Totally stuck.
In these circumstances, DOP&T and UPSC are urged to grant an extra attempt to civil services aspirants due to lockdown by allowing one-time relaxation , in future , as a special case? Further, in order to be just and fair to UPSC aspirants , the Govt of India may also re-visit its decision on lateral entry of 400 bureaucrats proposed to be recruited from open market .The impact of post-pandemic joblessness, should also not be overlooked.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

About a month back, entire Cabinet had walked out of the meeting, for the reason that the Chief Secretary, who is secretary of the cabinet, made some remarks, which were considered impolite and intemperate. Such a unsavoury situation, at such a apex level ,could have been avoided by tactful handling by the cabinet members,who are senior to chief secretary.The continuation of this childish act of permanent boycott of any meeting ,in which chief secretary was to take part, could embarrass the state further, which has already hardly any good achievement to show. So the mature handling by the chief minister saved the day. The chief secretary apologized and the controversy got buried. However ,a minister very boisterously proclaimed that the chief secretary had apologized thrice, so he could not refuse. It is not understood as to why the chief secretary apologized thrice, and why a minister ,against all norms of propriety and grace, had to so loudly pronounce about apology having been sought for three times by the chief secretary. But still the chief secretary has been removed disgracefully and unceremoniously, two months before his retirement.
The incident reminds me of a very old story, ''Death of a govt clerk'', written by a legendary short story writer of Russia, Anton Chekhov. Succinctly stated, a clerk, goes to a theatre to witness a drama. Sitting in the second row, he had to suddenly sneeze. When he looked around, he saw that a Civilian General, was wiping his head spattered by his sneeze. He apologized to him and the General said, ''never mind. ''But his fears took the clerk to the General's office three, four times for apology. The General ultimately lost his temper with this obstinate persistence and he rebuked the clerk, who could not live thereafter..
I remember that long time back, during Partap Singh Kairon's time, many officers would take a bold and righteous stand and would stand their ground. AL Fletcher ICS, who was a legendary Financial Commissioner Revenue Punjab, would be candid in his briefings to the Chief Minister, and would never budge from the righteous path.About two decades back ,there was an administrative secretary, who would almost on daily basis ,had to differ in opinion with his minister and send the files to Chief Minister for decisions. This continued for more than three years. The officer, in routine, accepted central deputation, but had never sought transfer. That secretary got his promotion as Secretary to govt of India and also functioned as chief secretary of the state for about 3 yearsStanding one's ground always pays.
I recollect a very unpleasant incident of Feb,2018,when Chief secretary of Delhi govt, lodged an FIR that he was manhandled by some AAP MLAs at the thick of the night,at the residence ,of the Chief Minister. If such incidents happen, then who will protect the higher and lower bureaucracy ! There were reports about a state, where the sons of the chief minister would attend all meetings. They would insult senior secretaries and would also often tell the chief secretary, ''tu chup reh,tu tto gadha hai.' 'Not very long ago ,the IAS association of a state, had selected,' the most corrupt bureaucrat of the state'', by secret ballot. Incidentally, she turned out to be the chief secretary of that state.
Punjab gets Ms. Vini Mahajan, as the first lady Chief Secretary of the state. She has come at a very crucial moment, but her long, illustrious, honest, straightforward, noble and highly courageous career, may start a glorious chapter for the state.
Surinderjit Singh Sandhu

The world is slowly but surely edging forward towards World War -3. Procrastination by having frequent dialogues with China is enabling China-Pakistan to mobilise their resources. Frequency of terror attacks by Pak is increasing by the hour.
Arrest of Chinese spies in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim for creating mayhem, is disturbing. Their intrusion through Nepal is the wake-up call.
India must strengthen its guard at the "chicken neck", which China is aiming to take over. This could cut off the entire North-India from the hinterland.
If, necessary, a small surgical strike at Nepal would be necessary to seize a part of Nepal to obfuscate China from further misadventure. No candyfloss approach for Nepal under the present Oli dispensation.
Time is of the essence
Are we awaiting arrival of S-400 air shield from Russia, Rafael fighter jets from France, Spice jets from Israel and F-22 & F-35 fighter jets from the US ? These would be useful in the long term perspective.
Though India can take on China and Pakistan together, but the NATO forces led by the US will have to concurrently engage with China and North Korea. This will force China to fight the war at multiple fronts.
India will have the opportunity to take back POK, Gilgit -Baltistan and Aksai chin.
India must also assist in the liberation // separatist’ movements in Baluchistan , Sindhu Desh and Pakhtoonistan. Afghanistan must grab the opportunity of taking over Pakhtoonistan.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)

Similar situation prevails in MoEF&CC. The particular Section of MoEFCC plays major role to delay the process. The selection of Directors and DGs of subordinate offices and autonomous bodies are kept pending for long time to provide benefits to the IFS officers on deputation. Especially, where the aspirant are Engineers or Scientists. The selection of Director, IPRIT, Bangalore is over long back but the same is being kept pending by RT Division, MoEFCC. When is comes to the appointment of IFS officer, the process is advanced. It was felt that the situation will improve under the regime of Honorable PM, but situation of scientific institutions remain same.
K Reddy

Several proposals for promotions are pending before the ACC for months. It seems nobody cares. Modi promised maximum governance with minimum government. It appears only Gujrat cadre officers and to some extent IAS can get their work done in ACC quickly and others have languish in waiting for the grace of ACC babus who are soaked in red tape. It is time Modi walks the talk of maximum governance by clearing the files quickly and by pulling up the ACC babus who are sitting over the fate of others like demi gods. Is Modi aware of the red tape in his own backyard ?
Prasad

Himalayan Blunder - a memoir written by Brigadier Dalvi that deals with the causes and the aftermath of the 1962 China-India war that resulted in the Chinese People's Liberation Army inflicting a crushing defeat for the Indian Army which was hardly equipped to face the unexpected aggression from China. . The Book gives a first person account of the war since Brigadier Dalvi who had served in the Indian Army. The Book, however, was banned by the Government of India soon after its publication.
While the title of the Book was taken from Chapter 33 of Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography where Gandhi discusses the Himalayan miscalculation in his article for April 14 ,1919. The term Himalayan Blunder has come to be used as a synonym for colossal failure in Indian politics.
After the war of 1947 between Pakistan and India, the Kashmir administration was divided into two parts- Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Pakistan divided POK into Azad Kashmir and Giljit-Baltistan. POK comprises parts of the original Kashmir whose borders extend to Punjab, Northwest, Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan, Xinjiang region of China and the east of Indian Kashmir. Back in 1947, Giljit -Baltistan in Pakistan comprised of the Giljit Agency and the Giljit Wazarat. In the Print dated August 30, 2019, Sanjay Dixit notes how the first Himalayan blunder was committed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when he decided to mak e a reference to the United Nations when India was actually making substantial gains: Poonch had been secured and Kargil had been won back, enemy forces had been chased away beyond the outskirts of Leh and India just needed the last push to capture Skardu and take Muzafarabad and Mirpur.
Fifty percent of Maharaja's army were Muslims who had joined hands with the Pakistan army in Poonch and Mirpur but the total indifference shown by Pandit Jawharlal Nehru who was only worried about Srinagar totally forgot about the Giljit Agency and Giljit Wazrat . Now both these regions want to join Ladakh but the Pakistan Premier Imran Khan will rather give these areas to China than to India.
In December 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was removed from the Ministry of Home Affairs under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and brought under Prime Minister Nehru that led to the resignation of Patel from the Cabinet as Patel felt that an open political battle would hurt India. Mahatma Gandhi, however, persuaded him to stay on as he felt a free India needed both Nehru and Patel. Patel was the last person to talk to Mahatma as the latter was assassinated minutes after Patel's departure on January 30 1948. Though Patel stayed on his counsel to send troops to defend Tibet from the invasion of People Republic of China. was rejected by Nehru who accepted the sovereignty of China over Tibet. Patel suffered a heart attack shortly after the death of Mahatma Gandhi as Patel himself attributed it to the shock of Gandhi's death. Sarar Patel died on December 15 1950.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (Retired)
Founder Chairman
Sri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel School for Monetary Economics
Chennai
Why extensions ?
I am unable to understand the present government policy of giving extensions of year or more. If an officer is too valuable to let go, he/she can be retained as an advisor, and the normal channels of promotion should not be blocked. It generates no goodwill for the PM but ill will and resentment.
Vijay Kumar