Whispers Forum

The appellant asked for a certified copy of the RNI Registration Certificate of "Dominican Ashram" vide Registration No. 46971/88. Before the CIC, the Appellant stated that the information has not been provided to him and it was wrongly denied by the then PIO ignoring the fact that it is a public document. The Respondent submitted that the registration certificate of registered newspapers are in public domain which can be easily accessed from their official website https://prgi.nic.in/registration-title-data-details/. During the hearing before the CIC, the Respondent opened the link on the computer system of the Bench and showed the e-certificate and also handed over a hard copy of e-certificate to the Appellant which was taken on record. The CIC held that appropriate reply has been given by the Respondent to the Appellant during hearing which is as per the provisions of the RTI Act.
Comments
A PIO must be thorough with the content accessible on the website of the organization failing which errors may be committed or, time may be spent on making available an information which has already been made public.
Citation: Jose Abraham v. Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India, File No: CIC/RNIND/A/2024/609589; Date of Decision: 25.08.2025
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 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded in 1925 by KB Hedgewar, has played a vital role in shaping India’s social and cultural fabric. From its inception, RSS emphasized nation first, self later, instilling discipline, service, and pride in Indian heritage among its members through daily shakhas (local gatherings). During the Partition in 1947, the RSS stood at the forefront, rescuing and rehabilitating victims irrespective of communities, proving its commitment to social harmony.
RSS has contributed to preserving India’s territorial integrity by assisting in integrating Kashmir, Goa, and Dadra-Nagar Haveli. Its volunteers supported the Indian Army and managed refugee relief during conflicts, showcasing strong patriotic service. The organization was also a backbone of resistance during the 1975 Emergency, defending constitutional values.
Beyond conflict zones, the RSS has focused on empowering marginalized groups, including tribal communities in remote regions, nurturing their culture and languages often neglected by others. The RSS promotes unity in diversity, fighting divisiveness and separatism.
In recent times, the RSS has been actively involved in community service, like reviving hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its emphasis on character-building and selfless service reflects its mission of nation-building beyond politics.
As PM Modi said, the RSS’s century-long devotion has been crucial in awakening pride and fostering harmony, making it a cornerstone of India’s collective strength and identity.
Neha Tiwari

The shrewd have once again outsmarted the nationalists! An impending war has to be averted at any cost, is easier to win, only if the guards of internal security know the mind of the aggressors better than them. We need to show greatest (nothing less) knowledge of the ethnicity and psychology of our people, particularly all border areas, and deal with day to day problems successfully. The enemies know the chinks in these sensitive areas far better than those handling them without even visiting those places once in their life time. I have expressed my views on WIC in the past and repeat them once again: highest grade sociologists and psychologists must be asked to study issues on regional and other basis covered and reflected in the Tables of the Census Reports. Even the AIS officers shy away from posting in these areas, desert the difficult post, are not competent to serve these areas, are even chosen for awards like the Magsaysay. Every suggested expert shall draw salary at the apex level to attract and retain them on these dry jobs (no malaidar posting). There are Universities abroad and so called super speciality hospitals, which lack professionals, but have at least marked the need for specialisation in areas unheard of. Repair the hurt caused by the “chupchap” gang in Ladakh without losing another minute!
M L Gupta

The bureaucracy is designed for efficiency. Its peculiar behaviour reflected in personal quirks, predilections and unusual lifestyle, could impact co-workers. Let me share some interesting anecdotes. First, the Disclaimer. My motive is not to hurt anyone or denigrate any service. Details withheld for obvious reasons.
(a)An ICS officer known for his extreme honesty and no-nonsense approach, did not spare his wife. As chief secretary, he once asked the police to even challan her for driving without a licence.
(b)In another case, a union Secretary ( first batch IAS), a stickler for good English, could not stand grammatical mistakes and spelling errors in file notings. The acts of omissions and commissions were meticulously noted in his infamous “Red diary” detailing officer. The reprimand would then be recorded in officers’ APRs with documentary evidence. Appeals against adverse entries were meaningless. The officer curiously bicycled from his official bungalow (in Lutyens Delhi) to office and back to save on petrol. The official bicycle, gloriously parked alongside the official car, evoked derisive laughter by the one-man show !
(c) I recall the unresolved stand-off that existed between a Joint Secretary and an Addl Secretary(both IAS).Ego clash. The former refused to report to his senior. The altercation turned into a public spectacle as they did not see eye-to-eye. The impasse continued for weeks as the Secretary failed to bring about a “rapprochement” between the warring officers till the senior was unceremoniously transferred.
(d)In another curious case,a union secretary refused the officially allotted government bungalow and preferred to stay in his private flat in Delhi so that he and his spouse (also a govt employee) could claim house rent allowances. It was surprising to see him residing in the neighbourhood of marginalized workers. A noble initiative motivated by greed. Some felt it was unbecoming of a Secretary due to his failure to maintain the dignity of the high office he held.
(e)Going further, a dipsomaniac union Secretary,obsessed with week-end late-night dinners, drank like a fish.Post-dinner,he used to be physically escorted by the official driver back home as he could hardly walk under the effects of liquor.
The list of misdemeanours is illustrative, not exhaustive. I suppose, it still continues.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The Appellant filed sought the list of petrol pump functioning in the urban area of district Bareilly. Further, he asked about the land requirements with layout of one Pump, the details of pumps which not fulfilled the land requirements and related information. The PIO denied the information holding that the appellant has not disclosed the public interest warranting disclosure of such an information. The CIC observed that reply furnished by the Respondent is not meticulous and directed the concerned PIO to revisit the instant RTI Application and provide a revised point-wise reply as available in their records. The CIC strongly recommended the IOCL to explore the viability of maintaining such information on their official website pertaining to list of petrol pumps functioning all over India and related issues regarding land requirement/measurement for allotment of petrol pump.
Comments
Making the information available in the public domain proactively is in keeping with the letter and spirit of suo-motu disclosures prescribed under Section 4 of the RTI Act, so that the public have minimum resort to the use of the RTI Act to obtain the information.
Citation: Shri Anand Singh Chauhan v. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), CIC/IOCLD/A/2023/626935; Date of Decision: 07.05.2025
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 Supreme Court and some High Courts have recently observed that the existing defamation laws are being misused and consume a lot of time of courts. SC has also directed that it should be decriminalised.
With so many means including social media available for any one to express his/her opinion on various issues , why cannot individual(s) . who feel DEFAMED, also use these means to reply to the accusation, rather filing a case in the court? It is a matter between two or more individuals and they should sort it out. However if there is an accusation against a Constitutional Office, it should be taken up.
Defamation should be examined under Law of Torts and a separate court should be set up and appeal only to High Court.
This will save time and effort of the High and Supreme Court.
S Gopal

Political dynasts are causing great harm to the polity. More often than not, born in the lap of luxury, they lack both education and experience. Their forefathers might have been educated, or at least possessed experience born out of struggle. However, these dynasts, lacking in both, often latch on to caste and religion and try to capture vote banks on the basis of such identity politics. One example is trying to increase reservations in services beyond 50%. What these dynasts do not realize is that the serious business of government cannot be conducted without efficiency of administration. In case their proposals are agreed to by the country, efficiency of administration will become so drastically reduced that all dreams of becoming a developed nation will evaporate. Utter chaos will reign. And these dynasts will fiddle while Rome burns.
V K Reddy

Indian brains migrated to America for jobs; it is high time Indian brains provide employment to American workers. In your absence also India developed, but not at the desired speed. There are currently enormous opportunities for you to earn better than your American jobs only if you work as lawfully as in America. Brains are the strength of a nation. It is time for all Indian brains to break the spell of America and build India which shall provide thousands of jobs to American workers. Because of lack of high grade brain power, the quality of all public works and services deteriorated so much that it was summed up by a single word: corruption. Our highways, cities, housing projects, health, education, media, creative industry- to name a few offer enormous opportunities . What a single dedicated public servant can deliver to a city or state & nation can be summed up by Sridharan delivering the Delhi Metro. We need dedication at that level and in 5 years we will create more jobs for Americans than H1B Visa Trump sells.
M L Gupta