Whispers Forum

DEBATE (1)
The system is good.It will have fixed tenure of the President .It will lead to a Pan India focus in terms of policies and development initiatives that needed India.
Lalit Shastri
DEBATE (2)
Presidential form of Govt will require constitutional amendment
The Presidential form of Government will require constitutional amendment—almost total. If the scenario is that the next Government will be the “Presidential Type’, the constitution will have to be re-written. Who will do that ? It’s not easy.
S K Jain
Points worth considering for Budget
Union Budget is due to be presented on July 5, 2019. There appears to be certain anomalies and discrepancies in tax system which should be removed or reduced. These discrepancies give rise to unequal distribution of wealth and lead to social injustice. Our tax system should be simple and easy to implement among all categories. 1. Professionals earning upto 50 lakhs get deduction of 50% i.e. 25 lakhs where as salaried class get only Rs. 40,000/ as standard deduction. This should be raised to 40% of gross salary to have some justice. 2. Consider of scrapping of tax exempt list of institution except PM's/CM's relief fund etc. Bring all NGOs, trust, social organisations, Parties into tax net. Meaning thereby all receipts donation or contribution to be made taxable through an amendment in income tax act. 3. Consider stopping of budgetary support to loss making PSUs and recapitalisation of Banks. This ia tax payers money and can be used for some welfare schemes. Rather consider disinvestment of loss making PSUs to have some revenue. Give business to others who can manage it professionally. 4. Consider reducing subsidies instead create earning/job opportunities. 5. Make Banks accountable in case of NPAs. Let banks monitor as envisaged in terms and conditions while granting loan. Real Estate is another episode to be unfolded. 6. Harmonise the interest rates of all PFs like EPF, GPF, CPF, PPF etc ie same interest rates across all PFs. All the best for forthcoming budget to bridge the gap between poor and rich so inequality is reduced.
Naveen
Uttrakhand Govt should have stopped it
Uttrakhand Government recently allowed two businessmen brothers to hold the wedding of their sons at the pristine place Auli near Joshimath. The place has lot of snow and is known for skiing. Why should the Government allow two marriages to be held there and letting the place be polluted by tons of garbage, plastics and leftover food. That too inspite of the order of the High Court where an environment activist filed a petition against this assault on the place not meant for such activities.
Aarti Khosla

The appellant sought certified copies of complete documents based on which details relating to his employee code were entered in the SECL record. He alleged that the Date of Birth entered in his service record is 1956 instead of 1966, hence, he had to retire early from his services. The appellant filed a second appeal before the CIC on the grounds that the CPIO did not provide the information sought for by him stating that no such documents are available. The CIC observed that as per the respondent, the documents sought by the appellant cannot be retrieved since the same are not available in the records of the respondent authority. The CIC directed the respondent to file an affidavit with it deposing that the records, on the basis of which the NEIS data relating to the appellant was generated, are not available with respondent. Hence, no information can be provided to the appellant. A copy of the affidavit was directed to be provided to the appellant.
Comments
There have been many instances, including some high profile ones, where superannuation has been challenged on the basis of second set of birth documents. The proper maintenance of records by the authorities can avoid such controversies.
Citation: Mool Singh v. CPIO, Western Coalfields Limited in Second Appeal No. CIC/WCLTD/A/2017/163501, Date 16.04.2019
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. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

DEBATE (1)
Presidential form of government was on the cards from Gujarat days. With this brute majority in Parliament, we are not inching forward, but the 'Party' is itching forward. One nation, one election is a recipe for disaster, as it would turn the screws on piddly parties. Issues in grassroots level and in state, national level are of different intensities. This one nation one election carrot is pulling wool over the eyes of the society. It can work only in two party sysrem right across. Otherwise it is a dangerous vice, which will squeeze life out of true democracy and real freedom.
S Srinivasan
“ Irrational Policy change ?”
Govt of India has been consistently following the policy of Rotational transfer of its employees every three years. Reason : to disable them from developing vested interests and stop from indulging in corrupt practices. The rule has stood the test of time. All State governments are following same policy, which was laid down after careful consideration by several bodies including the Administrative Reforms Commissions , CVC, Standing / Select committees etc. DOP&T’s guidelines apply across the board to bureaucracy. Personal sections of ministers, considered as sensitive postings, come within the purview of the aforesaid guidelines.
Now comes the surprise move by the ruling dispensation. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the PM ,has reversed the policy. The ACC has fixed a tenure of 10 yrs for the personal staff of central ministers. No wonder, the policy will start covering the entire bureaucracy. The new rule of “ freezing” erstwhile appointments for further five years at a stretch ,is fraught with serious implications on the role of Ethics in bureaucracy. It has hit the very basis of rotational transfer policy.
A little suspicion . Was the new rule prompted by considerations of legitimising extended tenures of personal staff of erstwhile Ministers who were cherry-picked to continue in the new council of ministers. Members in personal staff are expected to ensure implementation of unethical orders of ministers- by hook or by crook. Changes in transfer policy guidelines of all Cadres will be required.
During the misrule of Nehru, Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, officers were continued ad infinitum in violation of rules. Position went berserk when Madam Sonia Gandhi remained as the de facto Prime Minister for ten years.
Public expects PM Modi to be different.Even, Principal Secretary and Addl Pr Secy in the PMO are continuing with elevated status. But,their cases stand on a different footing.Not comparable to ministers’ personal staff. However, no one should be considered indispensable in bureaucracy. PM Modi is expected to learn lessons from UPA scams instead of repeating same blunders.
If, lessons are not learnt, history is bound to repeat itself.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
DD should telecast cricket live
Yes doordarshan should telecast cricket live of world series.
Kishor patel
No result ?
IB security assistant exam has been taken but till now result has not been declared.
Pawan
NFU and HM
Million dollar question sir. we hv faith in our present H.M. who will definately take unbiased decision. He is our family head and definately keep all his parts equal and parallel.
Manoj

DEBATE (1)
Prime Minister's push for one Nation One Election needs to be accepted by every one. The current system of having assembly polls throughout the year keeps everyone including the party in Power waste much of their time in campaigning. Look at the last 5 years of Modi Government. After 2014 the elections were held in several states in the North-east, Telangana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh at different points of time. Prime Minister himself and many of his other ministers were spending much time in rallies seeking votes for their party. Simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies will leave the next five years completely free for the Government at the Centre and those in the states to devote full attention to real governance. This will also save too much expenditure on holding elections multiple times. I hope the opposition sees the merit of this proposal and go along with the PM on this proposal.
Aarti Khosla
Is it possible to eradicate Corruption ?
Corruption in all spheres, is it possible to eradicate it ? However it is no doubt a noble act. I welcome and support such activities of the govt to make India free from any type of corruption
Nityananda Banerjee

DEBATE (1)
Once Indira Gandhi also tried but she failed. Character of this country is democratic and it will not deviate from the present system.
Girish Upadhyay
US has Presidential system, why not India ?
The Presidential system of Government would be welcome for India as the world’s superpower – the United States has it and it runs with full democratic norms. Nothing wrong with the Presidential form of Governance in India.
Pratap Singh Chauhan
Tax exemption - only the salary class are exposed
Modi Sarkar exemption of tax upto Rs.5,00,000. The main beneficiearies of this tax is only small trader and baniyas like rice merchants,. dal merchants etc. At least, earlier, they had been paying some tax. Now the tax responsibility for them is zero. But if you assess their wealth, they have atleast 2-3 houses, gold jewellery in abundance in their house. As usual, only the salary class are exposed.
Rahul
Killing A River Is A Sin
Some deeds are worse than ordinary offences or heinous crimes. Killing a river is such a sin. On 19 June 2019, the Rajasthan Patrika TV had telecast a detailed story on the killing of river Bhadrawati in Karauli in Rajasthan. It is very painful and highly disturbing. A river converted into a dry nallah? A government that can’t provide drinking water to all inhabitants of a riverine territory betrays total neglect and apathy to the life of the people, animals, flora and fauna, environment and good air quality. Those who live by a river know how their value systems are developed by the river. The river should not be allowed to die. Revive it and recharge the entire ecology. It sustains not only tigers but other wild animals, rich forests, organic agricultural produce and brave people. A few years back when the government of Rajasthan had tried to divert the Panchana dam water to the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, I had expressed my fears which were published on the WIC. Damming rivers unimaginatively is damning human life and all other forms of life! Can any sensible/responsible government kill its river so cruelly?
M L Gupta

DEBATE (1)
Who is best and responsible leader in the country can only be selected in this Presidential form of Government.
Prahlad Sharma
DEBATE (2)
One nation one election theory ?
PM’s new theory of one nation and one election proves that the country is inching towards Presidential system.
Niranjan Srivastava
Doordarshan and DD Sports Channel – a shame
It is a shame that DD Sports Channel which our Indian Channel is unable to Telecast Live World Cup 2019 Cricket, if not all the matches, at least matches where India is playing. Until, last year, not only important tournament matches were live telecast where India was playing, even matches with touring team being played at home were being telecast (ODI and T20). Every thing is there at the disposal of Doordarshan and still unfortunately, India matches in World Cup 2019 is not being telecast live. Instead, some three persons are sitting and gossiping saying it is live telecast and; but showing only live scoreboard and background pictures. It is true DD Sports has been sold to Start Sports. Hope at least future matches would be telecast live and this DD Sport would not be a slave of Star sports channel.
Rahul

DEBATE (1)
This Lok Sabha election was also an election like Presidential election in US and Narendra Modi emerged victorious.
Raveena Gill
DEBATE (2)
No doubt about it that in January 2022 country will have Presidential form of Government.
S Singh
Increasing revenue to spur the economy-2
Increasing revenue or cut the expenditure to make the money available for development of the country. Discrepancies in tax system should be minimized. Tax compliance in salary class is maximum but the benefits are not as given to professionals. Professional earning upto 50 lakhs gets rebate of 50% i.e. 25 lakhs without any problem where as others earning even Rs 5 lakhs has to give so many explanation and is discriminatory. Give the same advantage to salaried class also. This gives rise to inequality among equals and divide between poor and rich increases which results in 1% of population holds 73% of national wealth. This should be looked carefully in the budget 2019-20. Likewise many provident funds are available for investments/deduction like PPF, GPF, EPF, CPF but the interest rates are all different. There is need to harmonize the same that is same interest rates for all PF like age above 60 yrs is considered to be sr, citizens. Some of the points worth considering like: 1. Stopping of budgetary support to loss making PSUs and recapitalisation of banks. 2. Cutting down expenditure of non-essential items. 3. Freebies to be curtailed. Subsidies to be reduced instead create job and earning opportunities. 4. Monitoring of Foreign Exchange transaction thru RBI as gate keeping. 5. No tax and filing of returns upto 5 lakhs. Concentration of work towards higher income group to stop leaking of tax bucket. 6. Bring transparency and honesty in the system by creating some examples and lead role. No cash donation even not Rs. 2000/-. All cashless working. Receipt and expenditure to be in public domain for all NGOs, trust, parties etc. and paying the tax as formulated. Govt. will know the details of financial transaction and assets while filing of ITR by the concerned group. This will empower the Govt. to have necessary financial details as may be required in future. Let us hope for good budget to increase GDP growth, reduce inequality, spur the economy, creates more job opportunities, increase in farmers income etc. Good luck!
Naveen

DEBATE (1)
Presidential system of Government is good but but in the long term it will fail in our country.
Rakesh Tiwari
DEBATE (2)
Yes in 2022 there will be referrendum and Narendra Modi will be the President .
S K Tandan
Budget 2019 Budget 2019-20 is likely to be presented on July 5, 2019. There are many challenges before the Govt. Un-equal distribution of national wealth increases social injustice. As per one of the report 1% of top population holds 73% country's wealth. Tax system and its implementation plays vital role in distribution of wealth and achieving social justice. There are two major sources of revenue. Tax (direct and indirect) and non-tax revenue. There has been shortfall in tax revenue from estimated target. Non-tax revenue is collected through licensing of spectrum, auctioning of mines etc. which is generally good. There are number of steps Govt. can take to increase tax revenue like: 1, Scrap tax exempt (NGOs, Trust etc) institute list. Let every organisation pays tax to serve the nation. As these organisation are serving society at large, so there will be no problem in serving the country when they are needed. Law makes party will also contribute to the Nation building as they are already serving the country by paying tax. This requires an Amendment in income tax act which can be done thru the budget, 2. Steps to recover the loan from top 10000 defaulters. 3. Reduce the subsidies and create earning opportunities for every one. 4. Tax compliance is poor in categories other than salary class. No tools are available to assess the income of professionals, traders, businessman etc. It is estimated there may be more than 10000 people earning more than 100 crores per annum but how to figure it? Utilise the man power and time for developing innovative methods for assessing the income of professionals instead of scrutiny of cases low income group below 5 lakhs. Exempt these people from filing tax returns and save time and man power as well as processing power. 5. Simplification is key to success. Consider removing the tax on Long Term Capital Gain instead increase proportionately STT to compensate the losses due to LTCG. As it is easy to collect STT and every transactions gets covered. This will boost the tax revenue. 6. It is estimated 95% farmers earning is less than 5 lakhs and will not be paying tax. Hence consider tax on Agriculture income above 5 lakhs so every one is treated at par. Above points may be considered in the interest of Nation Building.
Naveen
“India’s Judicial System Flawed”
PM Modi failed to punish the corrupt in 1st term. Voted back in 2019, the public with higher expectations is keeping a close watch on Modi-2 sarkar. Unwilling to be fooled again in 2nd term.
PM Modi had left the punishment task totally incomplete. Rather, gave it the lowest priority.
India's most wanted: the Nehru- Gandhi dynasty, the Chidambaram, Karti, Mallya, Choksi, Vadra, Lalit, Nirav Modi, Tharoor, several UPA ministers etc are all having a free run.
People not only wanted to vote out the corrupt but also want them to be punished without delay.
The reasons for granting frequent and long adjournments and bails by courts, must be displayed in public domain.
Why blame India's Kanoon ? Blame, India's laidback Judiciary.
Culprits are receiving frequent bails, adjournments by Indian courts without substantive justifications. Subordinate courts are not accountable to higher courts. At least, so it seems.
The system is flawed. The Collegium system looks like a private club.
A total revamp of courts, including investigation into the assets of many judges, is a must
Concept of NJAC as the only transparent alternative must be revived . Kanoon koh bhi badal daalo. An amended bill must be passed afresh by the Parliament making it mandatory for the Apex court to enforce the Law.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

First Politicisation of Bureaucracy, Then Bureaucratisation of Government Are the public servants expected to be completely loyal to the politician and compromise transaction of official business as per law mandated? Should they be rewarded as ministers for their loyalty to a political leader, party or ideology? Both the situations are threatening to a vast majority of public servants, examined, interviewed and subjected to background check by more than one state agency. The politician public servant manages everything from interview to background check and succeeds in acting too much of an arrogant for long years of a career of a public servant. Once in the political executive, s/he acts like a bureaucrat, forgetting all sense of public service. The issue is: should political interference be continued to be treated with contempt or accepted as the new norm of Indian democracy? One reason why an occasional emergence of a Narendra Modi receives such a warm welcome is the expectation of those public servants who doggedly refuse to compromise their loyalty to the Constitution of India or exchange it for the loyalty of the politician. Can permanence to a changed public service culture be assured by the present Narendra Modi or the future Narendra Modi ? The problem is very serious taking into consideration state governments. Sting operations telecast threats to public servants to fall in line or be ready to suffer consequences (very derogatory to say “boria-bistar baandh lo”). Such political interference with the law emboldens and bonds the politician and the public servants. That is responsible for ruining the image of a great India in just 70 years !
M L Gupta
Prediction went true
On my inputs a few weeks ago, you had predicted that NS Nigam, IAS posted as MD West Bengal Transport Corporation would become next Secretary, Transport Department succeeding the then Principal Secretary, BP Gopalika, IAS. The prediction went true this week. Please post the message in your site for information of all concerned.
Rabindra Nath Sarkar
Anger will not help Mamta Bannerji !
Doctors are on strike in many parts of the country in sympathy with the doctors in Calcutta. Who is responsible for this sorry state of affairs where common people are suffering ? Decidedly the Chief Minister of West Bengal who not only failed to handle the doctors' strike tactfully but added fuel to the fire. What after all the doctors are wanting ? Safety against violence from the patients ' relatives who sometime in their grief on losing a kin lose all sense of proportion. Doctors are not God .They can give care and treatment for cure but then they also cannot save if a patient is dying. What happened in the hospital in Calcutta was truly repugnant. Doctors were beaten up so mercilessly by the relatives of a person who died that one of them landed up in ICU. The anger of the doctor community on this episode is understandable. Instead of condemning and threatening the doctors Mamta Bannerji should have taken some action to ensure their safety so that such attacks do not happen again. It seems the electoral reverses in West Bengal in Lok Sabha elections have rattled her so much that she is not able to think properly or concentrate on governance. Calmness not anger can help her in showing her the way to reclaim her lost ground.
Aarti Khosla

DEBATE (1)
If Rahul not AICC Chief, no outsider either becomes one !
Rahul Gandhi doesn’t want to be Congress President but if an outsider is made party’s President , the inner coterie of Gandhi family will finish his political career.
Manish Srivastava
Forest fires and indifference of the powers that be
Forest fires are raging in Uttarakhand-not one but so many in quite a few regions. One in Pauri is along the route to Kedarnath. These fires are annual phenomenon which has resulted in thousands of hectares of forests destroyed severely affecting the ecology of the state. What surprises one is total indifference of the powers that be to this destruction .Our national media does not even report it. Having been a regular visitor to the state every summer one reads about it in the local newspapers or hears it from the people there. While travelling through the state also one observes the black bare hills with burnt trees. Only two weeks ago while staying at one tourist house one witnessed a blaze on a nearby hill spreading very fast but mercifully it rained in the evening and the fire was extinguished. One of the reason for this disaster is dry grass which falls from the pine trees in summer littering the entire ground beneath. This grass called 'Perul' in local language is highly inflammable. They say it contains resin. Throw a cigarette or a beedi it catches fire and spreads in no time engulfing the trees. Sometimes the village folks while cleaning the outside of their houses gather it and light a match stick to burn it like stubble burning. All this is being irresponsible and shows lack of awareness. It is high time authorities educate people about this as also explore the commercial exploitation of this grass so that the same can be collected and forests cleaned of it .We need to have advanced measures to douse these fires. It is high time some serious thought is given to this to save the forests in this beautiful state as this is also threatening the wild life pushing the endangered animals towards the populated area adding to the animals- people conflict. When will we wake up to save our forests ?
Aarti Khosla

DEBATE (1)
Under the present circumstances next five years are very bad for the Congress.
Neeraj Mehra
DEBATE (2)
Difficult to name any Congress leader. Family did not promote any leader .
N D Telani
Great, WIC’ prediction came true
Your prediction about NS Nigam, IAS (WB 1998) made few weeks ago proved correct. He is appointed as Secretary, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal and took charge yesterday (10/6/19) from BP Gopalika, IAS (WB 1989), in terms of order no 1190-P&AR (IAS) 7P-149/2011 dated 06/6/2019 of P&AR Department, Govt of West Bengal. Great.
Rabindra Nath Sarkar, IAS
" Disturbing Trends, Mr Prime minister, Sir "
You are surely not enthused by the infighting going on between your two cabinet ministers for heading or getting memberships of various Cabinet sub-committees ? Hostility between them has come out in the open.
Artificial bitter-Sweet relationship. Mutual aversion. Speculations are rife that original orders of Cab Sectt had to be amended in order to accommodate a minister after his reported threat of resignation.
Public is appalled, amazed with the elected representatives ,they voted for,in last general elections. Public is disillusioned with ministers’ lust for power. Electoral fraud.
Ibtedaa-e- ishq hai rota hai kya, Aage aage dekhiye hota hai kya.
Ministers proudly call themselves Desh-bhakt. All are power-seekers.
Bahut na-insaafi hui hai ,public ke saath.
Even, the NSA was elevated to cabinet rank to maintain balance of power in the government after induction of the new Foreign minister with cabinet rank. Administrative compulsions are inevitable.
But, why wash the dirty linen in public .Open rivalry among serving ministers reveals a disturbing trend that sends misleading message to the public. This is no time for experimentation in governance.
Rolling-back of initial orders reveals non-application of mind and surrender to blackmailing.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)