Whispers Forum

Attention to Hon'ble Finance Minister Many positive steps have been taken to increase tax compliance and make the process of ITR filing simple, painless and seamless. But in doing so the ITR filing for salaried class have become difficult when capital gain is involved. Tax compliance is highest in salaried class and filing return using ITR1 form when there is no business income. Now in capital gain cases even there is no tax liability, tax payers are being forced to file return using ITR2 which is lengthy, difficult and complex form. In case of LTCG, even if LTCG is less than 1 lakh or loss in transfer of equity or equity oriented MF, one is forced to use ITR2 and fill up the Table 112A of Schedule CG which is not easy to fill it up without the help of professionals CA. This can practically be checked by Finance Minister or Revenue secretary to fill up the Form ITR2 themselves without taking any help from professionals by assuming there is sale of equity shares and redemption of MFs which was subscribed using SIP and LTCG is less than 1 lakh below taxable limit. It is quite logical when there is no tax liability on account of LTCG why force tax payers to fill up ITR2 and fill up the table 112A like giving full ledger details of the account without any tax revenue to the Govt. but only trouble to tax payers. It is submitted to Finance Minister to consider giving the option to tax payers to file return using ITR1 or ITR2 if there is no business income and no tax liability on account of STCG or LTCG on transfer of of equity or equity oriented MF. It is logical and justified. It will ease out the problems of salaried class/pensioners/others who are filing returns using ITR1. Even there is tax liability then ask only consolidated figures of purchase and sell in case of LTCG also like STCG to make the filing process seamless and painless. There is no point of asking script wise details for LTCG as it serves no purpose except records. In case of scrutiny the details can easily be asked and verified. No point of aping the west when our situations and conditions are entirely different from west. CBDT may like to look how to reduce cash transactions in case of professionals where there is large leakage of tax revenue. Cash transactions remains away from the Govt. financial system and no means to check it. Assuming if 60 to 70% of contract value is paid in cash, Govt. looses the tax revenue directly and no way to find it out. CBDT may consider to work innovative way to assess the income of professionals using AI and modern technology as on date no tools or methodologies are available. CBDT may also consider to extend the date for submission of FORM15H/G by July 2021 as physical submission to banks and post offices not possible due to lockdown and online submission not available in PSU banks and post offices. Govt. should make mandatory for all PSU banks and post offices to provide the on line submission of Form 15H, then it will ease the problem of submission of Form 15H specially for Sr. Citizens. Let the last 15H submitted for FY 2929-21 be applicable for first quarter of 2021-22. Looking forward for positive consideration of above points by Finance Minister.
Naveen

The Appellant submitted that he had filed written submissions at CIC in respect of his second appeal No. CIC/SBIND/A/2017/120059 on 23/07/2018. In this connection, he sought a certified copy of the said written submissions. The appellant submitted that certified copy means, stamp has to be affixed and designated officer has to sign the document and give it. He admitted that the Commission cannot certify a document not generated by them but was concerned that his written submissions was not received at the time of decision. The PIO submitted that the written submissions dated 23.07.2018 of the appellant were available on record at pages 50-97 of the PDF file no. CIC/SBIND/A/2017/120059. The PIO replied that there is no provision for providing certified copy of the documents provided by the appellant to the appellant himself. The CIC upheld the order of the PIO.
Comments
The information generated by the applicant is not held by the PIO. Being the originator of the information, the applicant is the holder of the information. This view has been upheld by the Madras High Court in W.P no. 26781 of 2013.
Citation: Prakash Ishwarbhai Patel v. RTI Cell, Central Information Commission in File No.: - CIC/CICOM/A/2019/116199, Date of Decision: 23/04/2021
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

Media reports have come stating that only those who have secured a good rank in IIT-JEE Main examination will be an essential requirement for selection to the technical branches of Indian Army through Technical entry scheme. It is very short sighted and unfair policy.
First of all, those who secure a good rank in IIT-JEE, and more so their parents, think that such children are gift of God to humankind but not to the Armed Forces. Given a choice, how many parents of such children will let their children prefer the armed forces over IITs.
Getting into an IIT is the first step towards realising the American dream for such children. Or they will go for the IIT/IIM combo after which they will enter careers selling cigarettes, alcohol, potato wafers etc or inti investment banking, management consulting all of which offer a starting salary which is more than what the Chief of Army gets after 40 years of service. Surely the choice is clear.
Another important aspect is that almost all the children who get good ranks in IIT-JEE are likely to be middle to upper income families from metros with access and affordability to very expensive coaching schools. All this will deprive boys from tier-2/3 towns and rural areas ,who are otherwise quite intelligent, deprive them forever from joining the armed forces.
This is grossly unfair. The Armed Forces must realise and reconcile to the fact taht the catchment area for manpower for them will be only from rural areas and smaller towns. Armed Forces must also realise that they too have an obligation to contribute to the economic well being of citizens in rural areas.
What requires upgradation is not the standard of students which is quite adequate but the standard of their technical training establishments, their faculty, infrastructure, testing methods etc. Instead of going for a soft and lazy option of insisting on IIT-JEE ranks, they should bring up the standards of their training school to the level of IITs. They actively seek the help of IITs for this purpose. IITs are also funded by the government and they should come forward to help th Armed Forces upgrade their institutions. I do hope many ex-servicemen among the readers of this site will take this up and see that justice is done to large number of rural children including children of exservicemen.
R. Subramanian

I was user of IGL PNG connection having BP no. 4000377744, my connection was disconnected on my request on 8.4.2021 as I have to vacate Government accommodation. I have paid all the dues on 13.4.2021. I requested several times for NOC, I visited control room Anand Parbat many times. I complained through customer care, mail, twitter but still I could not get the NOC, due to which I am not able to vacate my quarter and thus loosing my HRA . Please go through my all effort called the complaints lodge by me, mails, and take a necessary action. I will go to consumer court for my grievance. Thanks and regards
Arun Kumar
Getting the salary and not spending its one penny.
A few days back,it was widely reported by the media that one lady mining officer,was caught red-handed by the sleuths of the vigilance department,while accepting substantial bribe money, from a crusher owner.The mammoth mining scandal of swindling the govt ,by the mighty politicians,has been talked about by one and all in Punjab relentlessly for more than a decade,without an iota of change for the better,despite the cm having taken an overview of the situation in a helicopter.Officials taking bribe and the incarcerated,is very common event,but when a lady is caught in this situation,people are more aghast as the ladies are not imagined largely as corrupt.However this traditional man bastion has slowly been broken by the ladies to break even in gender issues.It has been alleged that the arrested officer had not drawn her salary from the bank for the last three years.It has surprised some,as to how the lady lived without drawing her salary.The alibis can be many.I remember,when Lal Bahadur Shastri ji was Railway minister of India,he resigned from the post ,taking moral responsibility of a railway accident.Can mining minister of Punjab now take moral responsibility of a corrupt officer working under him and caught just near to Chandigarh ,and resign?.Such officials must be dealt with under article 311(2)b and summarily dismissed.Will the cm see to it that it is done?
Some decades back,a young IAS boy was allocated Punjab cadre,and he was posted as SDM,in a big sub-division.He did not withdraw a single penny from his salary for about 2 years.Then his blue -eyed reader,annoyed at his not deciding a case,in a way he wanted it to be decided,made a complaint against him.He not only attached his bank statements along with the complaint,but also mentioned about as to who was managing his kitchen and who was paying for his sweepers and laundry.The officer ,when asked to explain,stated that he was a rich man,had land in his name ,and his father and elder brother regularly gave money to him.Those were easy days and cash flowed and flowed back without any fear.So alibis were proved,though completely,wrongly and the officer stood exonerated from all charges by a liberal senior,to reach the highest ladder in the state later.
There was a Tehsildar,who would tell everyone known to him that where should the honest officers go and how can an honest officer survive with such a paltry salary.He had make every endeavour to wrap himself in aura of probity and righteousness .I was posted at Jalandhar,when that officer's representation,who had retired, caught my attention.In his representation, he had revealed that for seven long years salary had not been paid to him.He had calculated the salary amount and the interest thereon.In order to sort out the matter,i made discreet enquiries.In those days a nazar of tehsil would draw salary from the treasury and pay it to the employees in cash.The unpaid salary would be kept in the safe of the nazar for sometime and then surrendered to the treasury again. The salary was not paid in the employees' bank account as is being done presentlyIn this particular case,it so happened that the entire record ,was consigned to the district record room.The officer never bothered about his salary.And on one fateful evening,the record room was caught fire and there not a single paper could be saved.So was no evidence was left that he had not drawn his salary.
Surinderjit singh sandhu, Amritsar

India is faced with a strategic strike against it in a field perhaps not anticipated - Health Care of people and its Infrastructure existing currently today. The Wuhan Virus unleashed in 2019 has brought the world to its knees . Globally countries are reeling from high death rates ,successive infections and overwhelmed doctors, nursing staff and healthcare workers. Surprise is the first principle of warfare. Chanakya, Sun Tsu , Clausewitz and more wrote reams on this subject . The think tank which launched this Strategic Strike globally have precise aims . Indians forsee this Wuhan Virus being around for a few years more , likely 2025-26. Should we create standing infrastructure against Wuhan Virus and mutations ? Or should India create Battlefield Hospital capabilities across the land as the Indian Armed Forces has built since 1947. The second option is less expensive and can be located in the 23 AIIMS HOSPITALS now in place and being commissioned rapidly. Economics is the foot soldier of power and a viable model is needed as we progress in the 21st century .
Devindra Sethi
Sanjay Naik promoted as DMD, SBI
Extremely happy, hearty congratulations Mr Sanjay, you richly deserve the elevation as DMD, my best wishes to you
Vijay Raj
Delhi govt should not waste on advertisement and freebies
Most fervent appeal to Delhi government four making a check on wasting humongous amount on advertisement and freebies to residence and instead use for better management of community services
The contents May kindly not be treated as aspersions or accusations but only suggestion for effective welfare of society
Delhi is passing through turbulent times particularly in this corona crisis when there is mud slinging on oxygen supply and others medicines which been created in short supply and all the allegations have been labeled to central government.
We should not be bete noire of any government in this delicate time ,every penny counts and matters ,criminal spending on long advertisements highlighting various schemes on the Rhetoric hyperbole which can otherwise be gainfully and meticulously spent on developmental works
There could be many governing agencies controlling delhi but the aim should not be always to be involved in mudslinging but serving the people with better facilities by creating a homogeneous ecosystem with the sole objective to provide best in Delhi. Delhi is multi factorial society and small richness s ection is taken with anathema and all the freebies for the poor section are given at the cost of little financially sound people.
Diversity has become a source of schism of virulent kind and a type of lynching is happening again the upper strata of society. We should not forget that it is this section which is absorbing onslaught of livelihood of poor people and this inter-dependence is need always
The business community is dying every day at the hands of government machinery , loaded with staring eyes of corruption.
We were sanguine with your dispensation that equanimity will be observed without cast , creed or financial gap ,but the poor our brothers only )who are assured vote bank for you are given plethora of facilities like free electricity up to 200 units ,20,000 L water education at the cost of hard earned tax from people falling in this category
It is easy to grant these free facilities but impossible to withdraw at the later stage as that will lead to bloodbath and paralysis by demo stations
By giving big advertisements people to do get attracted and it becomes a big tool for electoral victory but it should be the work that should become favorite and not the advertisement gimmick .
Kindly save Delhi and realign the spending for better results and not not for only self praise with the sole aim to win the election which we pray too ,but people at large should not be made to feel strangulated and die because of this central , state disputes always
Mahendra Goel

A state information commissioner is resigning to join as advisor to CM Uttarakhand. And Chief ICs of states usually join after retiring as chief secretaries. What harmonious existence between Government & information commission - great for its autonomy.
Yashovardhan Azad.
Former IPS officer and former CIC
Nationalization of private hospitals will lead to fall in standards of health
Harish Kumar by suggesting nationalization of all private hospitals is taking back the nation to old age of caves wherein in the Government servants will grow, misuse office perks & facilities, take their due leaves, reservation in medical services at the cost of quality, promotion of mediocrity and as result cause huge loss to exchequer & falling standards of health in the country.
Anurag Srivastava

CSS Forum is the association of the Central Secretariat service officers working in various ministries/ Departments middle to senior level the central government. For any queries, feel free to contact us on cssforumofficial@gmail.com
Gomesh Paramuval
Pricing of Sputnik vaccine
The firm which will manufacture the Russian origin Sputnik vaccine has priced it at Rs. 995 a jab- a marketing stroke. When people line up to get vaccinated the person at the counter will say no change Sir/Madam and people in a hurry to get vaccinated will forego the change, resulting in an additional gain of Rs. 5 per jab! Wonderful.
Lakshman

Group of Indians and friends from AU, US and India sourcing medical aid
We are a group of Indians and friends from AU, US and India sourcing medical grade oxygen concentrators, ventilators and other oxygen equipment from across the world, shipping these to India and distributing last mile to underserved rural districts. Since our launch 10 days ago, we have raised $900,000 from some of Australia's largest technology startups etc; sourced and secured 150 oxygen concentrators and 50 ventilators from China and US, shipped them into India and deployed across 4 underserved districts. We have line of sight on another 300+ concentrators and 150+ ventilators to be distributed to 15+ districts to save 10,000 lives over the next 3 months. We are providing these units to districts that don't have the resources to deal with the crisis. Would love to speak help in any way we can with more concentrators that are becoming available to us over the next one week.
Anish Sinha

The appellant sought information regarding deployment of army men to other country (UN & Bhutan) for specific mission like the certified copy of the instructions on the basis of which unit sends its army men to other country, the number of times the army men employees have been deployed to other country since January 2005, the list of Army men who were sent to other country, the criteria fixed for selection of Army men etc. The reply was delayed and not proper. The CIC held that the RTI application was handled very badly and it shows that the RTI matters are being handled in a very negligent manner. The CIC expressed its extreme displeasure at the conduct of the respondent organisation as a whole for showing such laxity while handling the RTI applications and the correspondence related to it and to the then CPIO for being negligent in handling the RTI application. The CIC directed that the Bombay Engineering Group & Centre, Kirkee office needs to evolve a system to ensure proper receipt & dispatch of the RTI correspondence by the CPIOs/Deemed PIOs/FAAs and maintain a proper record of every RTI application received and replied to by the organisation.
Comments
For timely discharge of duties mandated under the RTI Act, the dak management system of the public authority should be proper. All public authorities should maintain a proper record of each and every RTI application received in the organisation, to whom it is marked for action to prevent misplacement and mishandling of RTI correspondence. If an organisation needs to organise training programmes for the CPIOs and the deemed PIOs to familiarize them with the provisions of the RTI Act, they should contact proper trainers so that mistakes do not happen.
Citation: Gurmeet Singh v. Bombay Engineering Group & Centre, Kirkee in File no.: - CIC/IARMY/A/2019/111340, Date of Decision: 04/03/2021, 26/03/2021, 23/04/2021
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

DEBATE
It was not at all justified to hold political rallies and religious gatherings when the Corona pandemic was staring at us. Kumbha Mela could also have been held symbolically. The government could have allowed only the priests and the ‘Akharaas’ if they insisted and stopped general public from participating in the Kumbha. But large religious gatherings at the Kumbh Mela and politicians, cutting across party lines, have been addressing huge rallies. Now the second wave has hit us so severely only because of our stupidity.
Poonam Pathak
No one is interested in improving things
Fully agree with B B Shrivastava. No Politician or Bureaucrat(s) is interested in improving things. They benefit from Status-Quo and take no action. Hope the Government(s) take note of the recommendations and take immediate action to prevent chaos in future.
S Gopal

DEBATE
Election rallies led by important political figures, as well as crowded festivals and religious gatherings no doubt contributed to the record resurgence of the new coronavirus. After quelling the first surge late last year, both leaders and people let down their guard. Allowing or even encouraging dangerous behaviour, they underestimated the virus, reopening the economy too fast and too broadly and now we are seeing the dance of death.
Sunil Sinha
India needs Indian medical Administrative service
I agree with views expressed by Mahender Goel. India needs a Indian medical Administrative service. The tests or competitive exams be conducted by ICMR or identical parallel body manned by seasoned doctors. Format, quality and standards should be in line with UPSC. This body should also be authorized to recruit all junior level supporting staff too so the best lot joins the system. Covid crisis has proved that health is far more important after education. State can too have similar bodies on same lines. In addition to that GOI should nationalize all private hospitals and with their fat assets create more and more quality hospitals on war footing. This is the need of the hour.
Harish Kumar