Whispers Forum

DEBATE
Dipali Rastogi's comment on IAS officer's reflects her deficiency in understanding the emotions, sentiments and survival instinct of humanity as a whole.These comments hold good in any sector of the society be it the entire civil services, multi nationals or for that matter for any body who reports to some body. Singling out only IAS officers is the lacuna in her statement. But again labelling everybody in that category is also not appropriate. Even among IAS officers, she is writing about, there are good many numbers of them who are not bothered about plum postings etc but do and say what is right in dealing with any issues without bothering to please Political masters. Examples of that can be seen in names like T N seshan for IAS and Sridharan for Railways. But there are lot more such officers in service in every dept who anchor the bureaucracy and give their best without bothering about themselves. The lot she is talking about is valueless, principle less people who are there everywhere and they are the bane of the society.
Ramjays
Reminiscent of debate between Kalidas and Vidyotma
The clarification of Rahul debate in Parliament by Congress spokesman remind me of intellectual debate between Kalidas and his would be wife Vidyotma when crook courtesan interpreted stupid gestures of Kalidas as great intellectual arguments. By this analogy, we are going to see the making of a new Kalidas.
Mitra
Rise above silly sentiments
It was perhaps the most dangerous security breach for the Prime Minister to be touched in the Lok Sabha in such a blatant disregard for SOP for the security of the prime minister. What if it was a recce or a dry run of the Hindu Talibans abusing the privilege of the parliament member? What if the smearing of the poison on the cheeks of Kim’s half-brother at the airport is re-enacted in parliament? What if the real Hindu Talibans trained in or by Pakistan in fist fight harm the PM? Those watching politics in the country are aware how the communists of the Naxalite kind deal with their opponents? Was it the anarchist strategy to drag the Prime Minister by the collar? I recall some such thing was done to B.D. Jatti Sahab and poor Kesri even young entrants to politics remember so well. But the style of the anarchists was demonstrated by none other than a dismissed minister of Delhi who spoke in the camera that he would catch his chief by the neck……..(garden pakad kar….). What would have happened had some such anarchy been enacted in parliament? Even a human bomb is no impossibility. With the kind of hatred demonstrated by the opposition, the campaign run by foreign vested interests who keep supplying verbal missiles like Hindu Terror, Hindu Pakistan, Hindu Taliban etc. and more than one Cambridge Analytica, this was a great breach of the prime minister’s security. Has the security establishment got the prime minister’s clothes examined by team of forensic experts for deadly anthrax or other chemical couched in body spray? If not, why not? The threat to the life of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India is real and he can be harmed in this manner. Unravel the design of the enemy before they succeed.
M L Gupta

“Congress’s Fiasco”
Rahul's hugging the PM after his no-confidence motion speech, was histrionic, frivolous. Even, PM Modi was stunned by his childish behaviour. His outburst was without substance. His acting / rhetorics were uninspiring and de-motivating. It jolted the conscience of a common man. Worse, goaded by his cheer leaders and like-minded friend Scindia, he was misled to believe that he made a good speech. In excitement, he went on to hug PM Modi and trivialized the level of debate.
Without pre-checking facts , Rahul merely succeeded in committing blunders. His reference to parleys with French President ( claimed by him but without proofs) about secrecy clause in Rafael deal was thoughtless, immature and irresponsible. The ruling political dispensation is justified in moving a privilege motion against Congress's stupid stormy petrel. Surely, not a Congress's Presidential material, let alone, PM material. Unfit even to be a stand-up comedian.
A K Saxena ( A former civil servant)
Senior scientists also be empanelled as JS & AS
Senior scientists working in various Ministries/Departments/Attached Offices should also be empanelled as Joint Secretary and Addl Secretary atleast in technical departments.
Ajai

Copies of records relating to receipt & disposal of RTI applications for a particular period were sought. The Appellant claimed that as the information is in the nature of suo motu disclosure, the provisions of Section 7(9) cannot be invoked. The respondent agreed in principle to so motu disclose the sought for information viz. status of RTI application/first appeal received in their office, first appellate authority order etc. on their website. However, he sought for some time to arrange adequate training to all the concerned officers of Air India Ltd. The CIC allowed 4 months time to impart required training to the employees & for updating the software. The Air India was directed to put the information in public domain within 4 months from the date of receipt of this order.
Comments
Information relating to disposal of RTI application is liable to be disclosed on the website of the public authority in compliance with Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act read with DoPT circular dated 15.04.2013 vide O.M. No. 1/6/2011-IR.
Citation: : Mr. R.K. Jain v. Air India Limited in Complaint No. CIC/AIRIN/C/2016/299172, Dated of Decision: 02.01.2018
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/

DEBATE
Broadly, view of the people & Media is that most of the Bureaucrats are back bending to please/grease their political bosses for petty ends/desires.
Kishore Dudani
CVC also not interested !
Even CVC is also not interested to implement the findings of corruption cases elicited under the RTI Act. They simply forward the information relating to corruption to the concerned CVO of the Government Department for necessary action and advise the applicant for further communication in the matter, they may approach the concerned CVO. In the Government departments these days an executing official is given the additional charge of the CVO. It is quite possible that he may be the effected party. Why will he pay credence to such types of complaint. The fact that CVC has washed its hand off not further action will be taken in the matter and irregularity will continue to thrive.
BBS

DEBATE
What Dipali Rastogi wrote (in The Hindu) earlier this month about IAS officers wasn't news; it was her coming forward which was news"
Dipali Rastogi, a serving IAS officer borne on the Madhya Pradesh cadre, recently wrote in The Hindu, under the heading "The philosophy of power and prestige", that the "The best IAS officer is one that has no opinion of his own, or even if he does, keeps it to himself. As the years go by and the lines between bureaucracy and politics, between right and wrong, between truth and lies become fainter and fainter, an IAS officer will have lost all original thought."
Continuing further, Ms. Rastogi has noted that since the IAS officer listens to nobody except himself, his knowledge becomes superfluous and useless and the figures that he pops out are "all fudged" to meet the expectations of the political masters.
With this premise, Ms. Rastogi has gone on to underscore that the realization has dawned on the political masters that they were being taken for a ride and this has led to the decision at the Government of India level to give lateral entry at the JS level to experts (from the corporate sector), who can show spine and deliver.
When asked to react to the piece by Ms. Rastogi, an ex-bureaucrat who chose to quit the IAS a few years ago, said he always held exactly the same views as Ms. Dipali and was rather forthright about them but people always thought that he was mouthing anti-establishment views because he had quit the service.
The former IAS officer revealed that most bureaucrats in different WhatsApp forums were slamming Ms. Rastogi for her views. These "chamcha bureaucrats" have ruined the governance of this country, was his parting shot.
Lalit Shastri
No govt wants to implement RTI Act !
No government ever wants to implement the RTI Act otherwise, the section 4 should have been implemented in the last 13 years. This order is not likely to be implemented and the administration would cite the practical difficulties in implementing it.
Sumeet

DEBATE
The IAS from MP cadre who voiced that there are several bureaucrats who serve the politicians for their selfish needs is absolutely true. This has been happening since decades without a sign of it being stopped. Their education means nothing and they become shameless during their service so much that they stoop to any level to please their political masters. In Maharashtra, there are many such officers who have been rewarded with post retirement postings which ultimately costs the exchequer. Shameless people.
Ashok K Menon, Mumbai
Interference unwarranted
Interference by DM is unwarranted. It is not in the spirit of the Apex Court judgement which prescribes internal autonomy to the police.
Somesh Goyal
Rita Teotia is ideal person
Ms Rita Teotia is the ideal candidate. She is the chosen Commerce Secretary. Any IAS officer of Gujarat cadre would be able to handle CCI effectively.
V Kumar

Does this gentleman, by the name of AK Saxena, know the working of Deepali Rastogi? By treating Deepali and Faisal differently, after allegedly committing the same offence, the government may deepen the differences between Kashmir with the rest of the country.
ABC
Waistline of Natraj
It was during the Governor's rule in the turbulent Punjab ,some decades back, that a very prominent classical dancer was invited to perform at Jalandhar. Jalandhar kalasangam,a society headed by the divisional commissioner, often painstakingly organized such cultural shows at grand scale. In the first meeting, almost all the district heads of the various important departments, were made to participate. Sub- committees, as usual, were constituted to make arrangements for the success of the show. I was made member of some of the committees and immediate job assigned to me was to select the venue. It was felt that the show must be held inside a cinema hall, where ready-made stage would be available for the performance. At the time of site selection visit, only district public relations officer, was left to accompany me, as others had very plausible excuses for better works. Though the city had about ten cinemas, only Sant cinema, had reportedly the stage for such performance. Most of the new cinemas had slanting structures near the screen. It was an old cinema hall, which did not have the curtains in front of the screen and most of the front-line chairs were broken. The flooring etc was also shabby. All these shortcomings were duly reported to the deputy commissioner and the the commissioner. A meeting of the officers was convened immediately in the cinema hall. The owner was also called. Each item was discussed threadbare as the chief secretary was to be the chief guest of this function. The owner agreed to get the first three rows of chairs repaired. The fixing of the curtain was entrusted to the lucrative departments .The cleanliness and repairs of flooring was also entrusted to the municipal corporation and the PWD respectively. It was also decided that the portrait of Natraj, the God of dancing, would be prominently displayed in the lobby of the cinema
On the day of the performance, it was decided that in the morning wives of Commissioner, deputy commissioner and some other prominent ladies would inspect the arrangements. All officers were present during their visit. The team of ladies stood around the portrait of Natraj. Most of them appreciated the painter ,who had prepared it. Suddenly, all started looking at the face of one very well known person. This handsome man was prominent member of all the cultural committees of the district and performed repeatedly at the Doordarshan and the All India Radio. He was very politely and artistically telling the wife of the Commissioner,''Mam,please look at the waist of the deity,is not it protruding conspicuously.He added in punjabi also 'Natraj da lakk mota lagda hai (Natraj has a bulging waistline).''The lady looked critically at the portrait and very empirically and impetuously remarked, ''Yes, yes, of course! who has brought this ugly portrait ? ''I looked at the district public relations officer and he very worryingly at me. I timidly ventured to say, ''Mam, Natraj has a standard portrait and its waistline is always like this''. I was already very tired because all burden of the function had been put on me and many a times ,i was made to answer midnight jittery calls of the worried officers. My gentle words made the lady more angry and she said, ''It has to be replaced and must be done forthwith.'' I could say, ''mam, the function is to start at 6pmand it is already 1 pm. It will be impossible to replace it''. ''You will have to do it, I will tell my husband''. She put me under the threat of person, whom we knew as a very unreasonable person. I felt like leaving this job, which was considered a premier service of the state. After half an hour , i got a call at cinema manager's number from the PA of the commissioner, who told me that commissioner had desired that the Natraj portrait must be changed. I discussed the matter with the district public relations officer. He told me something in my ear. At 3pm, I rang up the commissioner and told him that the Natraj's portrait has been changed as per madam's directions. We told a blatant lie and incidentally it saved me from the wrath of two robots. Till day , whenever i come across that cultural czar, who pointed out Natraj's bulging waistline, I look the other way.
Surinderjit Singh Sandhu, Amritsar

The appellant sought the names of all beneficiaries including pregnant and lactating women at Anganwadi Centre situated at a particular village but did not get any response from the public authority. The CIC directed the PIO of Ministry of WCD to issue necessary guidelines for voluntary disclosures as per the mandate under Section 4 of RTI Act for the guidance of all Child Development Project Officers, ICDS Project to provide complete information voluntarily on their websites, which would eventually benefit the appellant also. The CIC directed that all CDPOs of ICDS project all over the country to voluntarily publish the month-wise expenditure incurred for functioning and maintenance of Anganwadi centres, names of the beneficiaries, details of benefits regularly on their website and display the printed copies conspicuously on notice board.
Comments
Though the State Governments directly monitor and supervise the functioning of Anganwadi centres, this massive programme receives around 50% of the funds (Rs. 16,000 crores approximately) from the Central Government. Section 4(1)(b) of RTI Act, clause (xii) mandates voluntary disclosure of the manner of execution of subsidy programs, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programs; and under clause (xiii) the particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it. Therefore, it is the mandatory duty of the every public authority to disclose complete details of money spent on subsidy program like that of the ICDS on Anganwadies including the details of each individual beneficiary of this program.
Citation: : Myathari Janardhan v. PIO, MOWCD in CIC/MOWCD/A/2017/166012 Date of Decision – 10.07.2018
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/

DEBATE
“Have the bureaucrats become slaves of their political masters for petty gains?”
The motion is partially correct. But, a sweeping generalization would be unjust and unfair. There are outstanding officers in civil services, who are worthy of inspiring emulation. Criticism of senior bureaucrats of MP by one Deepali Rastogi, a 1994 batch IAS officer, is well-deserved. In another recent instance, one Shah Faesal, IAS ( 2009 , J&K) lambasted his seniors and the system for not exercising freedom of conscience. His offence is far graver as he labelled India as “Rapistaan”. The Govt of India is within its right to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the two officers by invoking the statutory Conduct Rules. These emotional outbursts arise out of intolerance and impulsive nature.
The pliability and malleability of senior bureaucrats to please politicians has been there all along. The tendency gathers pace as bureaucrats approach retirement. They please corrupt politicians during service period in order to get coveted post-retirement assignments like governorships, nomination to legislatures, memberships UPSC, CEC, ambassadorial assignments, heads of superfluous committees and commissions etc. No one is willing to come out of comfort zone. They get addicted to a particular life style and they can go to any extent to maintain it. Such Politico-bureaucratic- nexus exist both at Centre and the States. All bureaucrats are unanimous on this. The retired ones, who are academically inclined, prefer to pen down their unsavoury experiences with politicians. They open their third eye and write memoirs cursing politicians.
Whatever one may say, the civil servant must learn to say no to politicians and take all precautions to effectively defend their career interests instead of blindly carrying out orders. Sudden outbursts by relatively junior civil servants, will pass off with time. They will be show-caused and awarded penalties invoking Conduct Rules. Politicians are incorrigible and will always remain supreme. All things considered, we require a strong political Will to cleans the “Animal farms” of all sorts of dodgy characters. There is a need to do away with all discretionary powers enjoyed by the political masters and bureaucrats in collusion with big business houses.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

DEBATE
The particular MP cadre officer has written about IAS officers and not civil servants...please make amends...​
Not that the other civil servants are without blemishes, but they get no opportunity to bare their souls before the political masters of the country to prove their love for them ! As a result -They get no perks either !!
The benign Assistant Secretary- to the DM -to the Secretary -the pilgrims' progress runs through the crevices of the Nation's destiny!
God in the heavens and IAS officers on the bosom of our beloved motherland ensure that the their "will" be done no matter what!
Our country must hold on to the caste, class and stratified social structures including its' civil service edifice, that have lasted generations, despite a Buddha, Mahavir, Kabir, Gandhi and other beacons of compassion and humanitarianism embedded in the bedrock, we participate in Democracy as vote banks!
The entire civil services and IAS at its apex is another citadel of the patriarchal structure-it is marked by chauvinism, parochialism and regimentation beautifully woven together!
We have learnt to live with such systems, so much so, that there is no yearning to change...
The French Revolution decimated the monarchy and reinforced the values of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity...
Our Independence movement consolidated the hold of Macaulay over the hearts and minds of Indians for generations -a regressive civil services and an education system that does not enlighten but enslaves us...
The benevolent Indian assimilates the invader and the tyrant-we accept ignominy and injustice as a portion of our "prarabdh" akin to the phenomenon of accidental birth as destiny!!
The question to be asked is-why does an Engineer, a Doctor, a Scientist abandon her/his stream to become an IAS?
Chinmayee

DEBATE
I am of the view that IAS officers should be permitted to express social conscience. An elite group of IAS officers should express their views in country's interest from time to time instead of stifling the freedom of conscience. There is nothing wrong if any IAS officer raises misdeeds and misconducts at upper level.
Rajesh Kumar
Banks should act clean
Haircut means Mundan for the taxpayers 9,00,000 Crores is a huge sum of NPAs. It means the loss is to be borne by the taxpayers through direct and indirect taxes. This is not the last liability. Defaulters, really international conman like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya, will be born time and again. The market slogan seems to be: Tum do pakdoge, to do sau paida ho jaayenge; Hum banko ko lootenge, Tum hamko pakad nahi paoge. Banks are obliged to act clean. They can’t join the looters by sanctioning loans to the unviable projects without doing complete scrutiny. The fact that these looters don’t go to private banks should raise the hackles of the bankers and demand thorough scrutiny of all the project parameters rather than taking on face value the projections of investment, return, employment, viability and profits. The background of the borrowers must be checked by the bank staff rather than private agencies.
M L Gupta