Whispers Forum

Delhi residents gathered at India Gate on Nov 9 to protest against the city’s air pollution crisis, demanding concrete action and effective measures to address the issue. The Delhi government has failed to provide clean air. Consider its monumental failure.
The artificial rain project in Delhi (cloud-seeding), turned out to be a damp squib. Reportedly, funds to the extent of Rs 3 crores were thrown down the drain on the futile experiment that was carried out ignoring the meteorologists advising its deferment due to absence of optimum atmospheric moisture. What were the compulsions under which the project was undertaken against the experts’ advice?
How did the political class and the bureaucracy defy logic and accountability? The Delhi government will have a lot to explain. The C&AG and the anti-corruption agencies must conduct an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the wastage of tax payers' money without an iota of benefit. Further, the officials responsible for the lapse, must be identified and awarded an appropriate penalty. The national capital continues to suffer pollution with a haze of dust and high AQI.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The appellant asked the IIM Bangalore to provide the exact and specific reasons regarding why he was not called for the interview for PhD programme. The PIO informed that the Pre-Pi score of the appellant was lower than the cut-off required for the CFI process under the NC-OBC category. The appellant submitted before the CIC that the parameters of shortlisting the candidates had not been provided by the PIO. Moreover, the reasons for not calling him for the interview had also not provided till date. The CIC held that the appellant has sought reasons, which does not fall within the definition of “information” as defined under section 2 (f) of the RTI Act.
Comments
The Hon’ble Bombay High court at Goa in the matter of Dr. Celsa Pinto vs. Goa State Information Commission (W.P. No. 419 of 2007, decision dated 03.04.2008), held that the definition of information cannot include within its fold answers to the question "why" which would be same thing as asking the reason for a justification for a particular thing. The public information authorities cannot be expected to communicate to the citizen the reason why a certain thing was done or not done in the sense of a justification because the citizen makes a requisition about information. Justifications are matter within the domain of adjudicating authorities and cannot properly be classified as information.
Citation: Anshul Bisen v. Indian Institute of Management–Bangalore, Second Appeal No. CIC/IIMBL/A/2024/631898; Date of Decision: 10.10.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

The best way to reform the MoD is to integrate the armed forces and the MoD together by amending the Transaction for Business Rules, 1961 - which keeps both entities separate. Additionally, we must focus on expanding the powers of the CDS to provide a greater emphasis on inter-service jointness.
Kishore Anandan
Bihar –if RJD comes to power “Bureaucracy”
This post has no journalistic integrity. It gives no real sources, makes vague claims sound like facts and uses double standards by attacking only RJD while ignoring that NDA does the same. It confuses 'merit' with old caste privilege and skips over the fact that the constitution allows such policies even the Patna High Court upheld them in 2024.. without clear evidence or fair standards. This looks like biased political propaganda, not genuine analysis. I’m not supporting RJD. But this post clearly isn’t objective.
Piyush

As people grow older, they typically accumulate more experience through years of learning, working, and living. With age one gains experience and it is of course not a prerequisite that one holds a big position or profile. It can be expressed more clearly by elderly men’s life lessons that they have learnt. The best life lessons are rarely taught, but deeply felt through experience.
Here are some powerful ones people often learn over time - No one notices your pain, no one notices your tears, no one notices your sadness but all notice only mistakes. Nobody is coming to save you, so get up, be your own hero; no matter how broke you are, learn not to accept offers that come with disrespect. Do not trust anyone because people change anytime for any reason. People will talk behind your back, do not worry they are behind for some reason. Always be careful with your words, because you never know how many times it is repeating in someone’s head. Half of your beauty comes from the way you speak and treat people. Waking up every day is one of the greatest blessings we can receive; be humble and never think you are better than anyone else; we all leave this world with nothing. No matter how kind or generous you are, you will never be able to satisfy an ungrateful person. As one grows older, one realizes that peace of mind matters the most. Life keeps moving; resisting change only brings pain. Learning to adapt builds resilience. Everything passes, be it good or bad. Nothing lasts forever, so cherish the highs and endure the lows with patience. There may be thousands of such life time experiences.
No matter what you do in life, people will always criticize you without fail. For example, if you get fat, people think you eat too much; if you lose weight, people think you are sick; if you dress well, you are showing off; if you dress simple, you are poor; if you speak your mind, you are rude and if you don’t you are coward; if you are successful, you are arrogant and if you are struggling, you are lazy; if you are honest, you are naïve.
A story goes something like, once upon a time a village man was walking with his wife and a donkey crossing many villages enroute. He crossed over one village and overheard people saying, ‘see, this person has a donkey and instead of making his wife sit on the donkey, he is making her walk’. Hearing that, the village man made his wife sit on the donkey and himself walking. He crossed over another village and overheard people saying, ‘see, this person is so uxorious and henpecked husband’. Hearing that, the village man made his wife get off the donkey and himself sat on the donkey. En route, the village man passed over another village and again he heard people uttering, ‘see, this selfish man, he is making his wife walk and himself riding on the donkey’. Overhearing this, the village man made his wife also sit with him on the donkey. Again as he passed over another village, he heard people gossiping, ‘see, how cruel and merciless this fellow is who is having no sympathy for the donkey’. Hearing this, the village man got off and made his wife also get down from the donkey’s back. Another village came and he again overheard people saying ‘see, this stupid person, he has a donkey even then both are walking instead of utilizing the donkey for travel’. As may be seen, no matter what you do in life, people will never fail to criticize you.
Not everyone will understand or like you and that’s okay. Seeking universal approval drains your authenticity. So, be kind, not a people-pleaser and do whatever makes you happy, do whatever fulfills you and build your dream life one day at a time.
Subbiah Sridhar
Creative Freelancer & Former Indian Diplomat

Scrutiny assessment scheme should be discontinued immediately, searches be stopped forthwith and greater use of AI tool and extensive use of REVISING RETURNS WITH PAYMENT OF additional taxes will gallop income tax collection like anything. To clean up massive arrear demand let govt introduce scheme akin to BANKING NPA RECOVERY and collect token amount of arrears and write off balance portion on the footage of waiving telecom agr dues and banking NPAs. All departmental appeals before any judicial forum be withdrawn to reduce judicial overload.
Rajesh Gohel

Mere visiting is like filing papers in Govt Dept.It is like courts to solve disputes which takes a decade. Let Secy understand the difference between pvt banks. and psu bks while handling customers. More than 60 % of psu bank customers have no literacy to interact and hence the customer dissatisfaction. This cannot be rectified by a simple visit by Finance Ministry. 80 % of PSIU banks are without infrastructure. You cannot contact through telephone. There are many information which can only be discussed personally.
V S Balassubramanian

Gone are the days when people thought working in PSUs was a 9-5 stress free job. Things have changed a lot. Everything is urgent. Seniors don't know what the top management wants. Seniors with experience have become postman for communicating the requirements of management. Anything goes wrong, it is the dealing officer's head that rolls. Favouritism, sycophancy win over hardwork, genuine talent most of the time. Bane raho pagla kaam karega agla.
Chaat teh raho boss ka..credit chori karlo doosron ka... Yahi chalta hai .. bosses always expect immediate results and output even on weekends, holidays and during leaves. Sometimes while attending funerals and visiting hospitals too.
Manohar

WIC has stood its ground in these 25 years, while mainstream entities had closed down under a variety of stresses. Staying so long without being tainted even once is possible if the man behind the platform is scrupulous, not for sale and lives truthfully. Journalism is still a “service” in spite of horrible commercialism of the industry. The Prime Minister had asked the people to develop an Indian platform so that opinion makers and influencers can freely and frankly express their opinions on matters of public interest without being dependent on foreign platforms which may be selective or twist views according to their agenda. I am happy to say that Whispersinthecorridors.com has maintained the highest standards of journalism for 25 years. Civilian awards are meant to encourage such honest service of WIC and its Editor-in-Chief Dr Suresh Mehrotra. Wish you many more years of clean journalism and good health!
M L Gupta

Information about the policy and instructions regarding the allotment of Government accommodation (Residences, Covered Car Parks, Camp Offices) to the incumbent or Ex. Ministers of Cabinet/State/ Deputy or equivalent status, incumbent or Ex. Member of Parliament between May 1, 2001 and October 30, 2023 was sought by the appellant. Further information about who had overstayed in the Government accommodation, the penal rent collected and copy of notices served etc. was also sought. The PIO replied that the information sought in the instant RTI Application is voluminous as the Appellant is seeking information for 22 years which requires collection and collation of data and providing the same would divert the time and resources of the public authority as per the provisions of Section 7 (9) of the RTI Act. The CIC declined to intervene in the matter observing that a person holds a public office does not, per se, render all personal information subject to public disclosure. The CIC pointed out that public interest is different from public curiosity.
Comments
There has been a long standing discussion about defining the boundaries of Public Interest - Information which is of interest to the public and something which is in the public interest. It raises a pertinent question whether any amount which has been condoned for overstaying in government accommodation should be disclosed.
Citation: Saurabh Kumar v. Directorate of Estates, File No: CIC/DOEST/A/2024/124871; Date of Decision: 09.09.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Bihar elections are due. The poorest state in India goes to the polls soon. It is a deeply polarized society, steeped in crime and corruption of the highest degree. The Jungle Raj the state had to endure for twenty years before the current dispensation still haunts the state. Murders, loot, rape, kidnapping, extortion and absolute anarchy with criminals ruling the roost and ordinary public cowering in their homes before daylight petered out with the threat of kidnapping and extortion looming large. A state where criminals are admired and looked upto. A state where uneducated, corrupt and criminal elements ruled the roost before the current dispensation. It is only the vision of PM modi which can save the benighted state from going back to the Jungle Raj where no daughter was safe and no son could live in peace without being kidnapped. The casteist and communal elements need to be defeated and their evil designs thwarted. Time for the people of Bihar to think carefully before falling prey to casteist and communal appeals of criminals. Time for nationalist forces to align behind PM Modi.
Vijay Kumar

Today, we joyfully celebrate the 80th birthday of Dr. Suresh Mehrotra, a legend in Indian journalism and the visionary founder of Whispers in the Corridors.
Your remarkable journey stands as a testament to integrity, intellect, and fearless pursuit of truth. Through your words, you have illuminated the corridors of power, inspired countless minds, and set the gold standard for responsible journalism.
Beyond your professional eminence, you are to us a guide, elder, and source of pride — whose humility, warmth, and wisdom continue to enrich our lives.
As you celebrate this extraordinary milestone, we pray for your continued good health, happiness, and serenity in the years ahead.
A life devoted to truth, ethics, and enlightenment — Dr. Suresh Mehrotra embodies the rare blend of journalistic brilliance and human grace. His words have shaped thought, his integrity has inspired generations, and his presence continues to be a guiding light for all who believe in the power of truth and dignity.
Sanjeev, Geetika & Family
Nigeria