Whispers Forum

Two newspaper stories in the last few weeks: one, the Honourable Supreme Court of India passed an order on street dogs, also called stray dogs. Merciful, sentimental, flowing from colonial justice system. Cheers from all sections! On Sunday in his monthly interaction with the people he mentioned about the training and deployment for security duty of Indian dogs, which he had suggested in his Man ki Baat 5 years ago. He mentioned that a trained squad has been deployed on duty, which will be shown to the public on the National Unity Day on 31st October 2025. Not even one TV channel took notice. It is commendable that the TOI has written a small edit about it. I place my emphasis on Original Narendra Modi, who lampoons without lampooning, caricatures without appearing to do so, excites laughter so silently that it sinks after much time. This happened in handling the COVID disaster (judicial orders and government action); this happened in the story about the Dog. When Modi took up the subject, he must have thought of the companion of Dharmaraj Yudhishthir, who left for the Himalayas on his heaven bound journey accompanied by his pet dog! Heritage to modernity! Every dog-Indian-has his day now!
M L Gupta

Why constitutional and govt functionaries given luxurious, expensive, non-Bharat BMW, Mercedes etc. Cars in a poor country like Bharat where people are still dying due to unavailability of FOOD. Shame on people using ir demanding such expensive BMW cars.
Bharath
In woods, we learn together: IFS Nihar Ranjan
A very good initiative that inspires students to learn about forests and wildlife, while also providing them with valuable exposure to forest environments and hands-on experience in various forest-related aspects.
Dr. K.B.Sujatha

The centre is mulling a proposal to "fast-track deputation" of IAS officers to the public sector.The news was recently reported in the WIC. The move amounts to “fixing square pegs in round holes”. Unarguably,we need more professionals than administrators, to run the public sector. According to management experts,over-bureaucratisation of public sector is anti-thetical to the concept of corporate culture.The competent authority needs to keep this in view while embarking on any decision.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The appellant requested pertaining to the selection of a student in the PGP 24-26 program. He requested to confirm whether Saransh Upadhyaya has been selected on a seat earmarked for EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota at IIM Ahmedabad. Alternatively, he requested to confirm the quota on which the selection has been done. The PIO replied that the information contains personal information of student. Hence, information cannot be provided under Section 8(1)(e) of RTI Act, 2005. The CIC noted that the appellant has sought for the personal information of third party, disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest. Hence, the sought information is exempted under Section 8(1) (e) & (j) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Comments
Professional records, including qualification, performance, evaluation reports, ACRs, disciplinary proceedings, etc. are all personal information. The appellant has to establish larger public interest to seek any personal information relating to a third party.
Citation: Satish Chhiber v. Indian Institute of Management: Ahmedabad, Second Appeal No. CIC/IIMAH/A/2024/629101; Date of Decision: 10.10.202
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 Lokpal ordering seven luxury BMW cars costing Rs 5 crores by a constitutional body for its members and Chairperson , out of taxpayers fund,is blatantly unjust and unfair. This goes against the spirit of its anti-corruption mandate. It should have observed austerity in expenditure in the face of several priority projects awaiting clearances and the present high rate of inflation in the country. Self-restraint should have been exercised.
Has the Lokpal assessed the repercussions of procuring such high-end use cars,on other organizations like the Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, Election
Commission,UPSC,C&AG,ministers,CIC,union Secretaries, states’chief secretaries etc.The Lokpal’s action is bound to open a pandora’s box as the Government will find it difficult to resist demands from other quarters. Urgent action is needed to stop the purchase before demands from others are received
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The centre is reportedly mulling a proposal of "fast-track deputation" of bureaucrats to man the public sector utilities. The proposed move amounts to “fixing square pegs in round holes”.Unarguably,we need more professionals than administrators, to run the public sector. According to management experts,over-bureaucratisation of public sector is antithetical to the concept of corporate culture. The competent authority needs to keep the advice in mind before proceeding further in the matter.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

Vide RTI application dated 29.04.2024, the appellant sought information about the Provident Fund Statement, PF trust being declared unexempted, his PF amount transferred to EPFO department etc. but did not receive any response. During hearing, upon the CIC’s query on not replying to the appellant within stipulated time limit, the respondent submitted that the earlier CPIO retired, and he has recently joined the respondent’s office and was not aware of the online RTI application. To this, the CIC questioned how an online RTI application can go unnoticed. In terms of the information to be furnished, the CIC observed that the respondent gave an appropriate reply to the appellant vide written submission dated 07.10.2025. Therefore, no further intervention of the Commission is required. Further, the CIC took a serious view of the fact that the respondent did not reply to the appellant within stipulated time limit as per the RTI Act and issued a show cause notice to the CPIO as to why action should not be initiated against him/her for not replying to the appellant’s RTI request within prescribed time limit.
Comments
One of the basic tenets of the RTI Act is that an applicant should receive a reply within the prescribed time limit. With the digital tracking of the RTI Application, it is incumbent upon the PIO to reply as per the prescribed time period or face consequences.
Citation: Biju Soman v. Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, Second Appeal No. CIC/HINAL/A/2024/134731; Date of Decision:15.10.2025
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