Whispers Forum

Chairman of C.B.I.C. in his news letter dated 24 Dec 2020 has stated that D.P.C. for 2016 batch of Direct Recruits has been conducted and orders will be issued shortly, again conveniently forgetting 2014 promoted AC batch Direct Recruit AC have completed 4 years of service where as Promoted AC have completed 6 years of service. This is heights of discrimination, arbitrary style of functioning. Revenue Secretary & FM must look into the matter and ensure that justice is done to 2014 Promoted AC batch and Board is not mired with unwanted litigation.
Bal Mukund Rao
“RTI Act is collapsing under its own weight”
The views on ‘ Obstacles in implementation of RTI Act ’ in WIC dt Dec 25, accusing ignorance of PIO and FAA for non-compliance, is not complete truth but only half truth. The officers are smart enough to get compromised for a quid pro quo.
CIC, the highest appellate authority under RTI Act 2005, ruled in 2013 that seven national political parties are public authorities and they must respond to RTI applications, appoint PIOs and make voluntary disclosures. No exemption clause. CIC has repeatedly expressed its helplessness in enforcing its rulings. Willful non-compliance of a toothless statutory body.
RTI was meant to bring about transparency in government functioning by tearing away layers of secrecy. Instead, the UPA supremo ever since its inception in 2005, ensured that CIC is dominated by those who had spent their entire careers keeping information away from the public. The practice continues till date. DOP&T administers the RTI Act. Ironically, Secretary ( DOP&T) after retirement , is often either a member or chairperson of CIC. The superannuated bureaucrats must be barred from re-employment in CIC. More often than not, they have opaque mindsets due to their long association with decision making government machinery.
May I urge PM Modi, as cabinet minister-in-charge of DOP&T, to take the call ?
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Chairman of C.B.I.C. is not bothered about the promotion of the 2014 batch promoted Asst. Commissioners although they have completed more than 6 years. These posts were created by due approval of Central Govt; U.P.S.C. and D.O.P.T. These Asst. Commissioners, have worked day & night to implement the biggest tax reform envisaged by our visionary P.M. Board, has promoted the blue eyed Direct AC of 2014 & 2015 batch and has done D.P.C. to promote 2016 batch also. FM is requested to direct Chairman to immediately hold D.P.C. and promote these AC with effect from 22/09/2018, to the rank of DC, the date when they completed 4 years, to avoid losing, money, time and energy in unproductive litigation
Tapan Mukherjee
National security not of paramount importance for govt
Four DG level posts are laying vacant in the govt of India which shows that the national security is not going to be the paramount importance for the govt. NSG, CISF, NCB and BPR&D all four are headless with someone having additional charge. In coming months, few more organisation are going headless. Govt should feel the gap as early as possible.
Mahesh
KP has aptly described C.B.I.C. as East India Company
Board on 22 Oct 2014 promoted Gr. B Officers to the post of Gr. A post of Asst. Commissioners, because there was a genuine and urgent requirement against sanctioned strength. Now after serving for 6 years they are being denied promotion to the rank of DC, since 22 Oct 2018. This is highly demotivating, discriminatory and treating highly experienced officers as children of lesser God.. Direct AC of 2014 & 2015 have already been promoted after 4 years of service, in Jan 2019 & 2020. 2016 direct batch will be promoted in Jan 2021. FM is requested to kindly direct Chairman to issue promotion orders of 2014 batch promoted AC before the end of 2020.
Abhijit Mondal

26 AS which is one of important documents for tax payers as well as for tax authorities for ITR filing and assessment. It has become still more important due to faceless assessment. 26 AS gives all details of tax related data corresponding to PAN. Now 26 AS is creating worry and confusion to second joint account holders in respect of high value transactions which is done by fist account holder but it is reflecting in 26 AS of both account holders under SFT part E.. Normally in India mostly people are having joint accounts as husband-wife, father-daughter, son-mother and so on for security and safety. Till recently 26 AS data was corresponding to first account holders only who is responsible to pay all taxes and second account holders were having their corresponding 26 AS form and pay their taxes. Now in faceless assessment which is mostly software controlled and less manual intervention. This duplicate entry in second joint account holders will give red flag for notice or scrutiny due to mismatch of income and tax paid statement. Assessing officer will also be confused who has done this transaction whether first account holder or second account holder and will like to call for details. This process will become more complex instead of simple one. To overcome the problem it is submitted that CBDT to look into the problem and resolve the issue immediately and such transactions should be reflected in first account holders 26 AS under SFT Part E only in order to avoid confusion and calling for explanation by way of issuing notice to second joint account holders. Good luck to resolve the issue.
Naveen
Refrain from making such type of remarks
I agree with both the colleagues mentioned above. Both my colleagues have already expressed anguish against the languages and uncalled for comments against CSSS by Shri Anurag Srivastava. In this connection, I would like to submit humbly without having any prejudice against anyone that we should refrain ourselves from making such type of remarks against any service/cadre officials. It is not necessary for an officer to extract personal work, if he wishes to do so, from the subordinate officer from his personal staff.
V P Sharma
Tere-mere or Nation’s Farmers ?
Why are political parties desperate to make Indian farmers their pawns, simply to pleasure or ego massage themselves? When politicians jump in to the fray, they expect high returns only. The various political parties now instigating farmers to continue their agitation are no different from the brigades standing with the Shaheenbagh paid crowds blocking roads whom they pushed offering themselves for Quarbani. When politicians provoke, mislead, incite or spur “bechare/bhole-bhaale kisanon ko” [how kind of them to call the farmers bechare etc in one breath and annadaataa in the next?], they don’t forget to apply the possessive pronoun “hamaare”/our before the farmers or kisan. Politicians don’t do it for free. Nobody expects them to do so for free! When they invest so much in the agitations, dharanas, protests, blockades, chakka jams or damage to private or public property or rights of the other citizens or the nation, they expect to retain the farmers for use as a committed vote bank and also party workers & volunteers for future agitations to create mayhem, lawlessness, chaos and anarchy on the roads, sometimes lending battalions to other friendly parties for mutual gains. We are waiting for the drama to be enacted in West Bengal soon. The only problem is that farmers’ rising debt liability will throw them into deep depression abetting suicides having lost everything to the oligopolists and clever politicians mouthing left rhetoric to entice them to self-destruction. If they have any qualms of conscience or morals they should clearly state the defects of the 3 laws and not talk tangentially.
M L Gupta
Afzal passes away
I was saddened to hear that IPS officer MS Afzal Sb passed away. My thoughts are with his family and relatives. May Allah forgive him and reward him Jannah.
Dr Mohammad Saleem

This govt seems not in a hurry to see the national security as paramount because the most of the heads of the elite organization are without the DGs like of NSG, CISF, NCB, BPR&D. The govt should take all this on priority and fill the gap without delay and leave the practice of giving any additional charge to someone. Hope govt will take call on it
Mahesh
Inquire why a minister requires a PS
Refers Mr Seth on Anurag Srivastava. I am adding to that. Mr Anurag should enquire why a minister requires a PS who is also an IAS or so. Does he take dictation ? Or the Minister only gives dictation ? Same is with senior most officers who have CSSS cadre with them to keep away undue bothering works or managing things orderly at their end.
Vinod Arora
Only relief which the farmers acknowledge till day
In Amritsar ,there is a village named Gumtala. Only a few people know that its earlier name was Gummat wala. Gummat is a dome shaped structure. In this Gummat in the village, during the Mughal period, peasants ,who were unable to pay the land revenue, used to be herded and subjected to worse kind of torture. Although the Britishers had constructed canals, made large areas of uncultivable lands cultivable, and turned the disbanded robust army of Khalsa raj into firebrand farmers, the overall condition of the farmers remained pitiable as the 'Pagrhi sambhal jatta, movement of 1907 indicates.
Well renowned wrestler and film actor Dara Singh has written in his autobiography that during his childhood, he noticed that his father would regularly go to the deputy commissioner's office for getting some land re-transferred to some of his close relatives. It had happened that his father came to know from the Nambardar that amount of his land revenue had increased as his relatives had transferred some land in his name. It was after protracted litigation that his father succeeded in transferring back the land to his relatives to be able to pay the land revenue. Land revenue during that period was about rupees 2 per annum, and the land's worth was not equal to this meagre amount as people did not want to have the land even free..
The only relief ,which the farmers acknowledge till day, was the legislation of Indebtedness Acts, brought forth by Sir Chhotu Ram, in the year 1935.This legislation largely enabled the farmers from the killing menace of debts during that period. The partition of the country completely devastated the farmers of West Punjab ,who got only 1/5th of the lands ,they had to abandon. They had to suffer long for rehabilitation. In the 1960s started the widely acclaimed 'Green Revolution' in Punjab. This revolution, though made the country self sufficient in food-grains, yet it did not bring the commensurate prosperity for the farmers. I am witness to the large number of villagers, including those who owned more than 50 acres of land, fleeing from their villages, whenever Tehsildar toured, for recovery of land revenue, abiana, taccavis etc. Nothing used to be more pathetic when their buffaloes, oxen and calves were taken away as the attached(kurk) items.Even their utensils were used to be attached and carried away to tehsil offices.
One of my relatives, who had 75 acres of land, once came to me ,when i was occupying a high post in revenue deptt. He said, ''Bhaji, tusi tehsildar nu keh deo ke 3 mahinayan di mohlat de dewe karza morh dyange, je uhne andar kar ditta ttan barhi bezti honi ae,tuhanu pata ee ae ke ilaqe vich saadi changi limbpuch bani hoyee ae.'' I told him to pay partial amount immediately and for the rest, tehsildar will not pursue recovery.''
Large number of rural families are sustained by the income of their sons ,who serve in the army, and some of them even rising to the ranks of Generals. The brilliant sons/daughters of these farmers ,despite heavy odds have been bringing medals from the Asian /Commonwealth/Saarc games etc. Since 1995,large number of the farmers have committed suicide because of debts. This mainstay of the national honour and dignity, which has been in constant misery, must be treated better by one and all.
Surinderjit Singh Sandhu

The Appellant sought information regarding marks obtained by her in a computer based exam for Graduate Level Selection post including the copy of her answer sheet along with response sheet. The PIO submitted that the answer key and response sheet are uploaded on website immediately after conduct of examination and are accessible to the candidates. She further submitted that upon receipt of notice of hearing, she got in touch with the concerned Service Provider who was responsible for conducting the averred examination for procuring the relevant documents. She further more submitted that the said Service Provider is located in Chennai in a COVID-19 containment zone. The CIC directed the PIO to provide a copy of Answer Key and Response sheet as sought in the RTI Application to the Appellant within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order, when CPIO resumes routine office after the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted.
Comments
The Covid – 19 epidemic affected many areas of life, including dissemination of information under the RTI Act. Many departments responded to the pandemic by using digital means. This order relates to May 2020 when many restrictions were in place.
Citation: Supriya Nipane v. Staff Selection Commission I File No: CIC/SSCOM/A/2018/627309, Date of Decision: 13/05/2020
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

PM Modi should have visited the agitating kisans after paying obeisance at Rakab Ganj Gurdwara on Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas. Was visiting Gurdwara the article of faith or political gimmick ? PM should not fight shy of confronting the silent majority of farmers in Delhi .He should personally clarify their misgivings ?
Man ki baat, monologues are only one-way traffic , devoid of question – answer sessions.
As an able communicator, why should PM Modi avoid pressers like his illustrious predecessor Dr Man Mohan Singh ? His address at the 100th centenary celebration of Aligarh Muslim University on Dec 22, is hugely appreciated.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)
Remarkable sense of community participation at farmer’s agitation
The protests by farmers against Farm Laws at several borders at the outskirts of Delhi display a remarkable sense of community participation. There are no opposition leaders giving meaningless speeches. It is their own leaders who are leading them against the Farm laws which they think are not beneficial to them. The way the grounds at Singhu, Gazipur and other borders are bursting with peaceful protestors looks like a festival of democracy rather than usual violent disruptions of normal protests. The sewa is everywhere be it feeding the hungry by free langars, taking care of their medical needs and winter clothing, laundry even foot massagers to soothe their tired feet. Such a remarkable discipline and voluntary efforts to help the farmers on protest in this biting cold by civil society and others show that people appreciate and feel their concerns about what they call 'black laws'. Agreeing to their demand to repeal these laws will not hurt the prestige of the powers that be. It will only show their faith in democracy and enhance their prestige and earn the gratitude of crores of Indians.
Aarti Khosla
Anurag Jain is second IAS officer from MP to be VC, DDA
Dear Anurag ji , we are calling from Chicago, U.S. and need your help. Will appreciate if you could please send your contacts. Thanks
Anil K Jain (jainanilk@comcast.net)

I fully understand the anguish and helplessness of Sunita and Ganeshan, regarding turning of blind eye on DC's promotion of ACs promoted in 2014. CBIC is behaving like East India Company, where Indians were not promoted beyond a certain posts. Rightly said only Prime Minister's intervention can wake up the Board from arrogant slumber
Subbarao K P
Information regarding empanelment of other services’ officers ?
Also provide information regarding empanelment of Officers of other Central Services in AS and JS levels.
B Prashanth
RTI - a godsend opportunity for students
For the students, RTI has emerged as a godsend opportunity. All the discrimination and partially can be removed using RTI effectively. Students should be taught about RTI as a part of the curriculum
Daniel

Success of kisan agitation depends on its sustainability and public support. Top business houses could unilaterally escalate prices of farm commodities making themselves richer and gullible consumers poorer. Statistics can be fudged to justify the hike. This apart , replacing lakhs of small middlemen by large corporate houses would create monopolistic situations. Kisan protests are already causing traders’ losses, disrupting distribution, breaking supply chains. Supreme court has noticed the Centre suggesting formation of a panel for resolution. Can consumers not be represented on the panel ?
Invoking Consumer Protection Act 2019 and fighting battles against powerful industrial houses in consumer courts would increase unnecessary litigation.
The scheme in its present form ,is designed largely to benefit private players. There are no restrictions on them from unilaterally, arbitrarily and disproportionately escalate the retail prices of commodities after procurement from the farmers at cheaper rates.
Farmers are aware of their interests better than the government. Do not underestimate them.
Artificial shortages of food grains could also be created by private players through hoarding to jack up prices.
Let the consumers pledge to boycott the products and services of large industrial houses, whose only aim is to earn profit and multiply it .
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)
Obstacle in implementation of the RTI Act
The biggest obstacle in the implementation of the RTI Act is the ignorance of the PIO / FAA and this leads to them to adopt all steps not to disclose the information to an applicant. It is necessary to train the officers to deal with the applications of the Act is dead.
Shrmishta Nair
CBIC Board does not responds
C.B.I.C. has promoted direct recruit AC of 2014 & 2015 batch and promotion orders of 2016 batch is going to be issued for 2016 batch for the post of DC on 01/01/2021. Promoted AC of 2014 batch who are now less than 400 in numbers & have completed more than 6 years of service have not yet been promoted to S.T.S. grade of DC. They were promoted after approval of Union Cabinet, U.P.S.C. & D.P.C. Numerous representations to Board have been sent, but to no avail. Board never responds. It seems Chairman & Members are more interested in Litigation than augmenting revenue. Revenue Secretary F.M. and P. M. are requested to direct Chairman to issue orders of Promoted AC of 2014 batch
Govind

The time has come to rebuild our infrastructure . - Infrastructure development by Government in Delhi will create jobs for one lakh Indians directly and indirectly. That is the need of the hour- JOBS - The Bhavans housing our govt offices are stinking, Covid infested, termite ridden and more . They need to be destroyed totally . - About 75 acres of new green spaces will be added to Delhi . More fresh air is the need of the hour. - We are a 3 Trillion plus economy today. Germany is just ahead of us in GDP. Ms Merkel is spending $300 billion dollars to revamp and rebuild Germany in 2020. Her vision is for Germany to lead Europe in 2021 and beyond . - Indians deserve new 21st infrastructure too such that people can live in open first class cities and suburbs and commute rapidly . A legacy from us senior generation to Young India .
Devindra
Highly derogatory remarks
This is with reference to comments of Anurag Shrivastava dated 22nd December, 2020 regarding CSSS cadre. His remarks are highly derogatory and call for condemnation. Use of such language as used by him in context of a specific cadre is an indication of the general attitude and an abnormal state of mind of the person. His remarks are totally uncalled for. I strongly condemn his remarks.
Saibal Bhattacharjee
This forum is for people who use parliamentary language
Mind your words Mr. Anurag Srivastava. This forum is only for people who express their opinion in a parliamentary language and not like you. After all we are all colleagues and you should know how to treat, if not, at least learn now. As far as CSSS are concerned I can vouch and show you in person how dedicated and sincere we are. We do our work without any pendency whereas only people like you who are insincere delay and try to show your highhandedness to the helpless CSSS. We are attached with bosses and work accordingly. How many of you can manage a seat along with a boss? Never you can. We have lot of coordination work to do and compilation, etc. which you cannot understand. I am not here to admonish you but try to be polite and not rude (at least in this column). Just passing on the files is not the only work in Govt. of India and elsewhere as other things are to be done minutely. Our single mistake may land up in problems whereas you can rectify in your file. So do take care and treat your colleagues properly at least from now. Good luck
Seth

For the last couple of days or rather a week orders for CSS were issued at all levels and whereas for CSSS is not used, It is a genuine concern for CSSS officers. Mr. Anurag Srivastava using all type of immatured language saying bedchai etc. This should be totally avoided. I would like to request your website should not be used as a bashing of one cadre by the other. Instead of bashing at each other, both should complement the work of each other and one should respect each other's cadre as all of them are working for the Government. The promotion orders of CSSS cadre at all levels should be issued at the earliest so that they are not demoralised as some of them at the senior level will be retiring shortly.
K Madu
Unfair and biased attitude of Board
Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs, promoted 2118 officers from executive cadre of Gr. B to Gr. A cadre post of Asst. Commissioners on Oct 22, 2014 after due approval of Union Cabinet. Hardly 400 officers are left for retirement. They are being denied promotion on one flimsy pretext or other. It is pertinent to mention that Direct Recruit AC of 2014 and 2015 batch have already been promoted and promotion of 2016 batch is on cards. This is unfair and biased attitude of Board. Will Revenue Secretary, F.M. and P. M.O. intervene so that suffering officers get their due and the just and fair image of the Govt is upheld.
Ganeshan D K
Let better sense prevail upon CBIC
CBIC has promoted direct recruit ACs of 2014 & 2015 batch on 1st Jan 2019 &2020 respectively, but not promoted Promotee ACs of 2014 batch, giving childish reasons that they are ad-hoc.On24 July 2020 CBIC came out with Office Order stating that with the approval of competent authority, it has been decided to extend the ad-hoc promotion made to the grade of ACs, DCs, JCs, ADCs, Commissioners beyond 31/12/2015 and till 31/12/2020 or till regularization, superannuation, VRS or demise etc. whichever is earlier. The grave injustice starts from here- a direct Ac can be promoted up to the rank of Commissioner, but an ad-hoc promotee cannot be promoted to the post of DC even after 6 years. There is Hon'ble Supreme Court judgement dated 13/08/1990 in the case of AK Chatterji vs UOI in WP 4532-33 of 1978 where in SC has directed that Promotee Officers in the grade of Asst. Collectors completing 4 years of service, whether regular, temporary or ad-hoc be given Sr. Time Scale with effect from the date on which he/she completed the required service of 4 years as prescribed. It seems CBIC is deliberately not acting upon this simmering issue and waiting for unnecessary and avoidable litigations. Let better sense prevail upon Chairman & Members of CBIC.
Sunita

The appellant sought to know how many students were admitted under HRM quota for a particular academic year in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs). The appellant submitted that he is not satisfied with the reply of the PIO as it was stated that the RTI is not a platform for questions and answers and if such is the case, then how will ordinary citizens know if admissions in KVS are done as per guidelines and no frauds have occurred. The CIC directed the PIO to provide the total number the students who were admitted under HRM quota for the academic year to the appellant. Further, the PIO was directed to provide the hyperlink of the website where the sought for information is available.
Comments
When some information which is already available on the website is sought by an appellant, the PIO should provide the specific web link of the same instead of saying that the information is available on the website.
Citation: S Malarvizhi v. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan in File no.: - CIC/KVSAN/A/2019/601602, Date of Decision: 08/10/2020
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

I fully agree with the views of Mr.Seth. Really sorry to say that CSSS employees are the most sufferers. As pointed out by Mr Seth, we are working on most of the Saturdays, Sundays even on Gazetted holidays for the smooth functioning of the office
P Venkataramani
Ministerial people take it otherwise
I am in full agreement with Mr. Seth. The attitude of ministerial cadre with stenographers always remain anti. The reason behind that is, it is only stenographer cadre personnel who have to follow up the matters on the directions of their bosses and ministerial people take it other way.
Hari