Whispers Forum

Staff in the Foreign Missions is not interested to solve the problems of the NRIs. Otherwise, why they seek the Minister’s help. It is unfortunate that for small routine matters, the Minister has to intervene. The fact is that the senior officers in the Missions have left every consular matter to the junior staff. The Consular Sections abroad are handled by the inefficient staff.
Zile Singh
Why only IAS officers ?
Why only IAS officers when there are very competent officers from the allied services. IAS already has two members in UPSC but no members from the allied services who come from the same civil service exams.
Krishna

The Government should immediately overhaul the complete system. I would suggest to make it a multidisciplinary agency where officers of all departments get posted.
AB
Political Parties stooping so low !
Yes it is very unfortunate that Political Parties are stooping so low in their speeches. Ruling parties are resorting to/encouraging Goondaism to attack those who donot tow their line of thinking. One can only wish that saner voices in Parties realise this and take corrective action to save Democracy in the country.
S Gopal
No enquiry at level of inspectors
Investigation shall be done only by officers not below the rank of SAG. No enquiry at the level of inspectors. Policemen should be kept out of CBI as they are not subject experts and not trained for investigations. Investigation is a serious business. Often conflict of interest makes the investigation.
Rajesh

Govt of India goes topsy-turvy. Utterly confused. Two union ministers of India have been directed to visit Pakistan for the ground-breaking for Kartarpur corridor on Nov 28, 2018. The news came as a rude shock today as we were observing the tenth anniversary of 26/11 in Mumbai that killed and maimed hundreds of Indians. Mental sufferings of those affected continues till date. Worse still, sharing the dias by the visiting Indian delegates with the Khalistanis, ISI- sponsored terrorists besides facing black flags, would be the most reprehensible experience for Indians of all faiths.
Opposition by the silent majority of MEA’s mandarins is over-ruled by the mighty "high command ", it is learnt. India's Pak policy lacks consistency, vision and fore-sight. Ad hocism reigns supreme in South Block. At least, so it seems.
Is this hypocrisy meant for the religious appeasement of the Sikh community in India, before elections?
It is considered sinful for the elites of ruling dispensation to look for political brownie points before elections by sacrificing country's honour ?
India has forfeited its right to condemn on-going terror attacks from across the border. Blowing hot and cold in administering foreign policy is amazing, awful, atrocious. We, Indians are feeling utterly humiliated by the zigzag course between the largest democracy and a military dictatorship.
A K Saxena (A former civil servnt)

Through his RTI application, the applicant sought information regarding whether the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) had received his registered letter in respect of his ANC-01 Study Material, reasons for delay in receiving of his study material, total number of temporary and permanent employees in their office etc. Before the CIC, the applicant stated that the requisite information was received by him after a prolonged delay. The CIC noted that the Applicant had received the information sought by him after a substantial period of delay which was against the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005. Therefore, the CIC cautioned the PIO to exercise due care in future to ensure that correct and complete information is furnished timely to the RTI applicant(s) as per provisions of the Act failing which penal proceedings under Section 20 shall be initiated.
Comments
The case depicts the myriad ways in which the citizens are using the RTI Act to improve the delivery of services to them. The PIO was fortunate to get away with a reprimand and not a penalty of Rs. 250/- for each day of delay in replying to the RTI application.
Citation: Mr. Virender Singh v. CPIO, Indira Gandhi National Open University in CIC/IGNOU /A/2017/171940-BJ, Date of Decision: 16.11.2018

The owners and lndlords are moving from pillar to post in order to get the copies of registries in NOIDA and Ghaziabad district. The concerned officers appear to be bothered by CM's warnings. The reason is said to be officials and some staff members have not reportedly received ‘cut’ from parties. Will CMO take action against such errant staff?
A Visitor
Political Parties stooping too low
Yes it is very unfortunate that Political Parties are stooping so low in their speeches. Ruling parties are resorting to/encouraging Goondaism to attack those who do not tow their line of thinking. One can only wish that saner voices in Parties realise this and take corrective action to save Democracy in the country.
S Gopal

Somebody enters the Delhi Secretariat walks up to the third floor ,accosts the chief minister and tries to throw chilli powder in his eyes the opposition (Manoj Tiwari of the BJP ) calls it a drama. The AAP pronounces it as police -centre conspiracy. No doubt the police seems to be lax in discharging their security function seriously since they know that CM is not liked by those controlling them. This is what is happening daily on our political landscape. Abuse your opponents, even get them attacked. Look at the campaign for the elections currently ongoing for three state assemblies. The words 'chor,lier' are freely thrown in criticising the opponent. It is no holds barred from the other side with nana nani dada dadi (already in the other world), khandan being invoked to make – I do not know what points. The discourse in the fight for votes has gone down so low that one wonders whether we will survive as a democracy. Listening to all this stuff these days i remember the words from the book "How Democracies Die " by Stevan Levisky &Daniel Zabalt and I quote "democracies depend not just on formal constitutions but also on informal codes. You treat your opponents like legitimate adversaries not illegitimate enemies. You tell the truth as best you can. You do not make naked appeals to bogotry". Are they listening?
Aarti Khosla

Flipkart Group CEO Binny Bansal recently stepped down from the company he co-founded in 2007. Binny resigned from Flipkart, which is India's largest e-commerce company by market share, following an investigation by the parent company Walmart over the allegations of "serious personal misconduct".
Bansal denied any sexual assault, and the company’s internal investigation agreed. But the executives at Walmart wanted to know that why Bansal hadn’t disclosed it. Many Flipkart employees and other observers found Walmart’s action confusing. At Flipkart, that information would have been considered personal. Culture clash is inevitable when one company buys another. But as multinational companies increasingly look to grow in India .. often by acquiring or buying stakes in local companies like Walmart did – it may put additional pressure on Corporate India to strengthen its own policies and practices with respect to sexual harassment, in and outside of the office.
Parag

The estranged wife’s lawyer had applied to seek information about husband’s salary. The purpose of seeking information was claimed to be bonafide as his client is fighting a legal battle against her husband claiming maintenance from him. The Bombay High Court dismissed the prayer of the wife’s lawyer for disclosure of husband’s salary slip using RTI route observing that the salary slips contain such details as deductions made from the salary, remittances made to the Bank by way of loan installments, remittances made to the Income Tax Authority towards part payment of the Income Tax for the concerned month and other details relating to contributions made to Provident Fund etc. Thus, the salary slips contain information of personal nature.
Comments
The lawyer had not asked for the gross income which he could have obtained as the same is liable to be provided under the RTI Act. Further, the application was not filed by the wife but by the advocate in his individual capacity.
Citation: Rajesh Ramchandra Kidile v. The Maharashtra State Information Commission and others in Bombay High Court Writ Petition No. 1766 of 2016
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE and 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 political Executive is expected to be transparent in Rafale deal ? No one can and should oppose judicial activism or judicial over-reach in the given circumstances for encroaching upon executive's domain? It would have been appropriate had the Supreme court taken secret briefing from IAF officers on Rafale procurement ? Their anonymity could have been maintained. All civil and defence services officers are bound by Conduct Rules. All report to the Executive. How could they depose independently in an open court on such a sensitive matter involving national security? The Apex court has reserved its judgement. And, justifiably so. It could still take the call by resorting to" in camera proceedings"
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)