Whispers Forum

Outcome of Kisan Rally or Parade on 26.01.2021 has proved that voter is king, kissan is Supreme in India. It shows unity in diversity too. This might give birth to the real democracy in India and pave way for emerging new democracies in the world. Kissan which is 68% of India has proved that they run India in all spheres. May be ‘agli baar kissan sarkar’. Of course, the dispensation has mis-handled this cause right from day 1 to date. India heading for turbulence in coming days, if arrogance overtakes the cause.
Harish Kumar

Information in connection with the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme was sought. The PIO submitted that in all the RTI applications where the appellant was directed to pay the requisite photocopying charges, he has never paid the same on the pretext that he is facing some problem while paying the additional photocopying charges through online mode, despite the fact that the First Appellate Authority had properly guided the appellant in a step-wise manner as to how the charges are to be paid. This shows that the appellant is misusing the RTI Act and is not serious about obtaining the information sought. The CIC took note of the fact that in 7 other cases against the same respondent, the appellant has raised the issue regarding online payment of the photocopying charges. The CIC observed that the appellant is himself non-serious about the RTI applications filed by him. Further, the bonafides of the respondent organisation can be established from the fact that in each of the RTI applications, the PIO has never denied any information. In the interest of justice, the CIC directed the PIO to explain in writing the modes of payment other than the online RTI portal so that appellant can pay the requisite charges.
Comments
It is not mandatory for any applicant to pay the additional charges through online mode only and an appellant can opt for any other option for making the payment like IPO, DD etc., rather than waiting for the Information Commission to give any relief. Multiple RTI applications where the queries are also not specific and which are often not covered under the definition of information under Section 2(f) lead to obstruction of the flow of information with respect to other applicants and defeats the very purpose of the RTI Act.
Citation: Rajesh Nagar v. Salt Commissioner, Directorate General of Health Services and Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade in Decision no.: CIC/SALTC/A/2019/139973/03502, Date of Decision: 18/05/2020
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

A great victory for Joe Biden, President of the United States of America inaugurated today noon. Congratulations Mr. President! He has got rewarded for service to the American people for almost half a century, undeterred by personal tragedy or pain. He is likely to provide the much-needed balm to the injured Americans in the traumatic time of COVID-19. His election is unlikely to change the geo-political scenario much as issues of concern to nations and humanity stay as they are presently. Post COVID-19 they might even aggravate further. Poverty, in America or elsewhere, will continue to be one of the prominent election issues before leaders for many more decades as poverty elimination makes only enchanting election rhetoric. Jobs are unlikely to grow as the pandemic has already changed commerce shrinking employment opportunities drastically. Terrorism, which has spread from New York to Paris in less than 20 years, will cause instability in many more countries. American supremacy is gone. Europe will rise to defend its existence under serious threat from terrorism. Policies pursued by China will impact America restricting its maneuverability. The world will need to opt for frugality against waste as the preferred economic policy. Climate change will have to be addressed sincerely, which will impose heavy costs on all nations. The world will have to search for new goals as one entity. Values will need to be re-defined and re-enforced. Democracy costs too much and instability of society is a negative result of it. Humanity needs much more than what the modern age has provided in the name of social, political and economic justice. It is time to restore to mankind what has been taken away from it in the Age of Science & Technology. What was appropriate for the 20th Century will not meet the demands of the 21st Century. Words like liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, socialism and the whole plethora of rights will get recast automatically or will be forced by challenging circumstances threatening the very survival of the human species and even planet Earth. Limitations of science and technology will become too apparent. Once human functions are carried out by robots, the survival of human beings will have no meaning. The shape of things in future will be known only in due course!
M L Gupta
NGOs of politicians are source of corruption
Saheb, Minister, MP, MLA ke NGO is the source of corruption. Band kar dijye. 50 percent corruption low ho jayga.
Ashutosh Mishra

I have been a staunch supporter of the ongoing farmers' agitation. It is a historic event as it has broken the barriers of caste and religion, which have been dividing us, and united the Indian people. Thus it has overcome our disunity, which was the main obstacle to our nation's progress. However, I must also point out a mistake that the farmers have made. Their strategy of blocking roads for ingress and egress to and from Delhi. The farmers' leaders must realise that this strategy will lose the farmers public sympathy, as it causes immense difficulties for people living in Delhi and others who have to commute to and from it.
Rajesh Shrivastava Noida

The country voted in 2014 to replace the erstwhile corrupt Sonia-led UPA by the Modi-led NDA. The voting pattern was repeated in 2019 elections in the hope of getting Good governance.
Hopes were dashed after initial euphoria. A new narrative was created to deflect people’s attention from the promised dreams.An impression started gaining the ground that the ruling dispensation is trying to outsmart its predecessor in the game of competitive corruption.
The public feels that decisions are being taken by present government to help top business houses. Specific cases are in public domain. Deals, it is alleged, carry quid pro quo tags. Crony capitalism . Illegal funds are collected illegally by all political parties either for staying in power or for coming to power. The allegations are very serious and must be taken note of by PM Modi for corrective steps.
The scandals of the so-called "Lutynes media" during UPA are not forgotten. The infamous tapes of Niira Radia- Barkha Dutt- Tata keep haunting us. Open secret. Doubling as corporate lobbysts for top business houses, the media persons could pose serious threat to national security besides blackmailing the VVIPs within .
If , lessons are not learnt from history, it would repeat itself . Consider specifics.
WhatsApp chats leaks?
The alleged leaks of WhatsApp chats between the Republic TV Editor-in-chief and some VVIPs are disturbing. If allegations are proved, this may cause considerable embarrassment to the bigwigs including some cabinet ministers. The CEO is fighting back. He must. It is his right.
One wonder how some TV editors, anchors manage to get tapes of classified information documents for their TV channels. Game of one-up-manship for TRP for more revenue through advertisements. Who is helping them in procuring propaganda material?
It is noteworthy that Whispersinthecorridors.com, has avoided unethical practices. I do not recall any unsavoury controversy having erupted during the past twenty years, since inception.
Chinese incursion?
May I take the opportunity of raising the issue of China creating a village in the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh by constructing 101 pucca houses ? Was this case of intelligence failure, suppression of facts or both ? High resolution pictures are available in public domain. Honeytrap is common. The matter is very serious warranting consideration by the Cabinet Committee on Security. The culprits must be booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 for espionage, sedition.
Consider UPA era. Why, no action was taken against Rahul Gandhi,when he tore off a copy of the draft cabinet note, a classified document. It was more than a mistake, a blunder by the UPA. Rahul’s arrogant and impulsive act attracted the OSA 1923.
The moot point is : Who supplied such high resolution pictures of the ‘Chinese’ village to the prominent TV channel ? Could be the Congis and Commies in cahoots with China and ISI, their paymasters. The culprits must be tried under OSA 1923.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

On 14/01/2021 CBIC issued an Office Order No. 7/2021 where in it has been stated that with the approval of competent authority, it has been decided to extend the ad hoc promotions made to the grades of AC, DC, JC & Commissioner for the period till 31/12/2021 or till the regularisation of the service of the officers or till their date of retirement whichever is earliest and until further orders. After that in an annexure all the Office Orders till date are mentioned which also includes the order through which 2014 batch of Promotee AC were promoted. What is stopping the Board in issuing the ad hoc order for the grade of STS/DC for promoting the 2014 batch of promotee AC, who have completed 6 years of residency period instead of 4 years in JTS when the officers upto the rank of Jt. Secretary (Commissioners) are working on ad hoc basis? This not only shows the bias of Board towards Promotee AC, but also it's incompetence, mess & sad state of affairs, as direct officers, who become Commissioners after putting in 20-22 years of Service are also working as ad hoc, thus making them ineligible for Central Deputation as regular service is required for the same. Chairman & Members remain in the Board for not more than 2 years and are just interested in getting post retirement assignment. Revenue Secretary & FM and PM must post competent, upright IAS officers as Chairman & Members of Board who can completely overhaul the functioning of the Board. Since, the post of Chairman and Member is Ex Cadre post, this can easily be done. The cartelisation of Board must be broken.
V M Prabhakaran

I fully agree with the views expressed by AK Saxena on IIMs, the same holds good for recently added IITs, these IITs have reduced the luster and reputation of all IITs too.
Harish Kumar
Farmers’ agitation spinning out-of-control
Agriculture is a state subject but the Union of India enacted with incredible speed
the three farm laws 2020, based on brutal majority in Lok Sabha and the ‘Voice Vote’ in Rajya Sabha. All the laws enacted without discussions and without consulting the stakeholders (States and farmers unions) naturally raised suspicions in the minds of the aggrieved.
Was there a national emergency during which the Union of India could have legislated on States’ subjects ? Was ratification of any international treaty involved. None of these. Then, why undue haste ?
How to break the impasse ? Extraordinary situation demands extraordinary solutions such as : Suo moto withdrawal of Presidential assent to the bills for abrogating the farm laws. At least, he could make his intentions clear to the ruling dispensation.
In the alternative, the President could invoke the advisory jurisdiction of the Apex court. Political parties including the defunct opposition, must be exposed.
For how long, could the nation be expected to mutely watch the political drama ?
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Solution seems to be eluding the farmers agitation inspired of Supreme Court intervention. In such a situation an article of Dr VK Bahuguna, former DG, ICFRE and Chairman of Centre for Resource Management and Environment, in Millennium Post had suggested that the Government of India should bring an amendment and leave the implementation on States based on the perception of local farmers or make these Acts as model Acts on the line of APMC Act. Secondly, he argues that when the Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution for not implementing these Acts in the state what is the justification for the states in supporting and scaling up the agitation for abrogation of these Acts .
V K Bahuguna

On Jan 13, 2021 Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared purchase of 83 no.s of LCA (light combat aircraft) at cost of Rs 45,696 crore. It is a great step towards self-reliance in Aerospace manufacturing in India and will create an excellent ecosystem with HAL, BEL ,L&T and other 160 plus indian co.s/MSMEs.
I recall as Chairman HAL, that IOC(initial operational clearance) was achieved on Dec 20, 2013 and we delivered first Series Production aircraft (SP-1) to Air Chief Arup Raha in the presence of Manohar Parrikar, the then Raksha Mantri on Jan 17, 2015 (in just 13 months).
The future-LCA is important for us . THREE SUGGESTIONS—We must form a national advisory group of LCA for effective execution and tech adoptions. HAL also needs to increase Annual production capacity. LCA skills now be converted into a new National program-IRTA(Indian Regional Transport Aircraft.
Thanks to PM and RM for this positive decision...compliments IAF, DRDO and HAL for the achievement....
Dr R K Tyagi