Whispers Forum

Information regarding the total amount of black money declared, state-wise and city-wise figures under the Income Disclosure Scheme, 2016 was sought. The PIO informed that the Scheme was maintained with absolute confidentiality about the declarants and the amount declared. Sharing of such information in public domain might cause the declarants vulnerable and jeopardize their security. The CIC noted that the CBDT has refrained from issuing any statement regarding number of declarations received, amounts declared or taxes paid under the Scheme in order to ensure complete confidentiality and upheld the denial of information.
Comments
The confidential handling of declarations made under the Scheme is of utmost importance to the Income Tax Department and such information can be disclosed only if the larger public interest warrants so. A matter of public interest does not mean that which is interesting as gratifying curiosity or a love of information or amusement but that in which a class of the community have a pecuniary interest, or some interest by which their legal rights or liabilities are affected.
Citation: Mr. Vimlesh Kumar Verma v. Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue in Appeal No.:-CIC/DOREV/A/2017/102892-BJ, Date of Decision: 05.03.2018
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICand PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at - http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

The frightening proportion of bank frauds are so worrisome for small depositors who park their hard earned money only in Banks thinking these to be the safest place. The bankers who are supposed to safeguard our interest are merrily doling out huge sums of money to the likes of Mallaya, Nirav Modi, Choksi, Jiten Mehta the billionaires fraudsters who have run away with thousands of crores to foreign lands where they have parked their money and have comfortable houses to live. The latest robber of banks Nirav Modi, it has come out' has invested most of the loan money in buying assets abroad in several countries. How could he do so. Obviously the bank officials who issued Letters of Understanding to the overseas branches were in league with these people of course for a price. Ultimately it is corruption all the way. One is also bewildered at the Govt. policy for disbursement of loans. Why these famously rich people the diamond merchants ,the airlines owners be given loans by the banks. Could they not expand their business out of the money they make. Secondly why so many banks are disbursing loans to the same entity. For example Choksi the mama got nearly six thousand crore from 31 banks. Should not the banks have a system to check on the credibility of the applicant from the banks he has already taken loan. Why there was no action when these sharks defaulted on payment. Obviously in our scheme of things we harass a small loan taker like farmers and do not bother these wealthy 'gentlemen'. It is painful to find farmers committing suicide as they are unable to pay back a few thousands rupee loan while these people who took thousands of crores are safely ensconced in luxury in foreign lands and tax heavens.
Aarti Khosla

Reason for PSBs NPAs frauds the basic reasons for the PSB bank frauds and NPAs are due to retired and present top management nexus with fraudsters. For top post like GM, ED, CEO and CMD etc, there are price tags. These tags are borne by NPA account holders and Fraudsters. It is public money that both parties are enjoying. Parties take place at five star hotels. Foreign trips, all these cost are borne by fraudsters. It is deep rooted scams. The retired will get employment at fraudsters companies with huge salary for certain period so that the black will convert to white by both parties. Will PM investigate all these? If it is investigated, several top present and retired heads of PSB will roll.
Rao

The system in India does not work because the system managers want it to run only when they need it. This is why we do notice major lapses such as Nirav Modi leaving the country in spite of the Modi Government. The respected Finance Minister has raised questions about the credibility of the various players involved, directly or indirectly, in such lapses. This includes a large number of Bank Officials, Chartered Accountants, Auditors, RBI Officials, employees of Nirav Modi, etc. He has expressed surprise as to why no one raised the alarm. On the face of it, it sounds credible to the credit of the politicians, but a deeper analysis will easily show as why the UPA as well as the NDA is responsible for the mess. Respected Jaitely Sir, would you like to tell the nation what you have done to encourage a whistle blower. It remains a fact that in general the system is either non-responsive to complaints or it is vindictive. A random check on the disposal of Public Grievance System reveals that the quality of disposal is highly dismal. In general, a bad note initiated by the dealing hand, be it an Under Secretary or an LDC, is not altered. Senior Officers hardly have time and priority to go deep and they just approve every bad note. The monitoring system has failed because it is not our priority. An independent sample check, at each level, can do wonders. If the system is interested, it may start from the sample check on the disposal of Public Grievances. Respected FM may be surprised to see that in all cases there is just a transfer from one table to another and while doing so no one reads the full case. Similarly, why the Government cannot analyse the large number of contempt cases against it. Why responsibility cannot be fixed for every contempt case? This will not only increase efficiency and make the system accountable, it will also reduce the burden on our judiciary, which is already overburdened. I hope, someone in the system is listening.
A. K. Verma, ISS (Retd.)

With the arrest of Karti, one hopes that action against the corrupt has started. The supporters of the NDA, who voted the NDA alliance to power, did it on the strength of honesty and past record of PM Modi. They expect action against all corrupt, politicians, bureaucrats and industrialists who are corrupt. This arrest and others to follow will certainly boost the Govt image among supporters, who were getting tired of repeated charges without action. The Govt one hopes will go ahead with clean up operations against these rogue elements. Of course Congress and their like will make noises, but it will be futile, as they will have no takers among the voters, except the die-hard supporters of CONGIS and Leftists and some others, who in any case are not supporters of NDA or BJP. Achche din for people it seems has started!
S Chatterjee
Kudos to BEL
This is due to honest, sincere, hardworking, qualified management and employees. Also, there is no casteism, favouritism, nepotism, regionalism in the organisation. Maharatna PSUs should take it as role model.
Rao
Tapan Ray best candidate for Chairman, IRDAI
Tapan Ray is the best candidate for the post of Chairman IRDAI. He has done yeoman's job in GSPC, Gujarat and later on at several important positions including SFIO, IBBI.
P Mukherjee

The Government of India and State Govts have announced with lot of fanfare the launching of "Swaccha Bharat Abhiyaan." To popularise it, sometimes Ministers and even the Prime Minister can be seen with a broom tied on bamboos sweeping a street in groups, as if, only for a photo shoot. Another gimmick is to get catchy short songs recorded on this mission and played on the vehicles of the Bhopal Municipal Corporation. Can such gimmicks make a city clean? If we take only Bhopal an example, has the BMC chalked out a strategy at micro and macro levels and worked out the finer details fixing responsibilities for execution and supervision at each level. Does someone even monitor the progress. The cleaning of the roads and side roads as well as of the storm water drains is left at the mercy of the safai kaamgars who are least committed and only make a casual appearance once a week with just a broom in their hand. They do not carry any wheel barrow or big plastic bags to collect the garbage in them and dump in the garbage bins. They only sweep the roads and throw the garbage either in the green belt or collect in dumps on the roadside . When winds blow the same garbage spreads in all directions once again. The Corporation staff has powers to impose spot fines on citizens throwing litter or making the city dirty by urinating, spitting , defecating in public. This is only in name. There should be teams constituted for each ward which should be constantly moving in the ward areas to deal with the defaulters on the spot and imposing and recovering fines on the spot. Unless , this is done as a mission in the right earnest, catching one or two persons n a month is making a mockery of the whole scheme. A central team recently visited Bhopal to assess the cleanliness of Bhopal. Perhaps the team visited only those areas which the BMC had laboriously cleaned to earn high score. They left and Bhopal is back to square one as per the latest reporting in a leading English daily published from Bhopal .
S C Agrawal
DG Police,( Retd.), MP Bhopal
Pen is mightier than sword
Why particular community got plum postings in Government, investigating agencies, PSU's pub etc for the past three years? I am seeing this site since 2015 onwards that one particular community who perform kalam(pen) puja occupied top slots. I know this community for last 36 years service, they believe pen is mightier than sword, community bonding is most important. They pick up their own caste in promotions and transfers to key positions. Will govt take a note of it?
Prasad

The Appellant sought information in connection with a particular tender - technically sanctioned estimates alongwith all document, Comparative Statement prepared after opening of technical bids, reasons for long delay, decision until its opening and issues related thereto. The CIC noted that the tender process had since been completed. The CIC advised the Respondent to suo-motu disclose all tender related information pertaining to this matter on their website keeping in view the larger public interest involved in such matters. The CIC noted with serious concern that the FAA had also not acted in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 and advised the public authority to be alert and cautious.
Comments
The act of entering into an agreement with any other entity by a public authority is a public activity and every citizen is entitled to know on what terms the Agreement has been reached. The Division bench of Jharkhand High Court in State of Jharkhand v. Navin Kumar Sinha and Anr. held that once a decision is taken in the matter of grant of tender, there is no justification to keep it secret. The appeal against the aforementioned decision was dismissed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Citation: Mr. M. R. Sonaje v. Office of the General Manager, ISPN in Appeal No.:-CIC/ISPNR/A/2017/191825-BJ, Date of Decision: 02.02.2018
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICand PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at - http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

Delhi's CM action appears to be a preplanned attempt to brow beat the bureaucracy. Unfortunately the bureaucracy (IAS,IPS,DANICS,DANIPS) are not united and the Politicians are taking advantage of it. It is Time that all bureaucrats, irrespective of their service, joins hand and refuse to carry out illegal orders of Political Bosses and their followers. They should not be afraid of transfers. Once a clear message is given that no Bureaucrat will obey their illegal orders, politicians will be compelled to mend their behaviour.
S Gopal

The present system of appointments in Central Universities and Institutes like IITs and IIMs is worse than the system of collegium of judges’ selection. The VC/Director and Head can choose whoever they want, based on half hour interview, without substantive weights to academic records or published research. Many hanky-panky are done. It is unfortunate that this has not changed, and people with backing of faculties are selected. No competition, no appraisals etc. It is a complete incestuous relationship, and people of left leanings still are flourishing, and also creating agitations against this government. The government should not be apologetic, and ruthlessly clean up the system, by having a central level education board etc as existed before independence. Otherwise the present system of nepotism and favouritism will continue and atmosphere will continue to be vitiated.
S Chatterjee