Whispers Forum

The appellant sought Promotional correspondence records and concerned certified copies claiming that issue stands clarified by DoPT under OM No 36012/12/2013-Estt (Res) dated 24th July 2020. The CIC noted that the Appellant sought inspection of all records and correspondence relating to his promotion and certain clarifications regarding the Rules and Procedures followed by the Respondent organization, including details concerning DoPT OMs. The PIO informed the Appellant that inspection of all relevant files had already been offered to him in the past and, pursuant to the directions of the CIC in an earlier matter, he had in fact inspected the files on 18.10.2023, whereafter certified copies were also provided to him. With respect to the remaining queries, the PIO clarified that the information sought was vague and appeared to require interpretation or clarification of rules, which does not fall within the definition of “information” under Section 2(f) of the RTI Act. The CIC observed that several of the queries raised in the RTI application seek interpretation of Rules and reasons for administrative decisions, which is beyond the mandate of the RTI Act. The CIC further noted that the Appellant has remained absent during the hearing and has continued to file repetitive RTI applications relating to his service grievance, which cannot be adjudicated under the provisions of the RTI Act. The CIC also noted that the promotional issue underlying these RTI applications now stands resolved as the Appellant has already been promoted and has assumed charge.
Comments
The RTI Act defines “information” under Section 2(f) and the seeking clarification is not covered under the provisions of the Act. However, with ingenuity, the RTI Act can be used to nudge the public authority to perform certain actions.
Citation:C M Nimje v. Central Water and Power Research Station; File No: CIC/CWPRS/A/2024/625204; Date of Decision: 11.12.2025
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

They must have discussed ways and means to avoid border tensions ... The fact remains that, if we had a good relationship with each other (and Russia) , we could have taken on the world together ... The US's high-handed attitude isn't going to last long ... The only issue is about Taiwan...
Dennis Collins
8th Pay Commission
It should be remembered that pay commission comes after ten years and therefore increase in salary and pension should take into account that next it will be raised in 2036 and the present raise is being given after 2016. Better raise will increase chances of lesser corruption
I L Bhatia
Eighth Pay Commission
If its 8th pay commission why fitment would be only 2.28 which is lesser than 7th pay commission fitment 2.57 it must be above 3.00 which is higher which is best suited and reasonable to some extent.
David Malangmei

Iran has invited PM Modi to the state funeral and burial ceremonies for Ali Khamenei, its former supreme leader on July 4,2026.
Will PM Modi go without annoying the fickle-minded and fastidious Trump and a friend like Israel? The riddle is troubling the mind of every Indian.
I feel, PM Modi must visit Iran to restore historic ties with that great country to the earlier state of trust and amity. Failing this, a big diplomatic embarrassment awaits India
As a sovereign country, let us not miss the opportunity .Let us fast-track completion of the remaining work at Chabahar port to connect with Afghanistan and central Asia. Let us also resume importing crude oil from Iran.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

Shobha Surendran, Saroj Pandey, Locket Chatterjee, Daggubati Purandeswari, Meenakshi Lekhi must also be included in the Cabinet. Time to groom women leaders as 33% reservation upcoming
M G Snu
Sachin Pilot
Sir is widely viewed as a dynamic and youth-oriented political figure. While the current Chief Minister of Rajasthan is BJP's Bhajan Lal Sharma, Pilot's supporters frequently praise his leadership for his focus on modern development, grassroots engagement, and dedication to public welfare.Key thoughts and perspectives on his political persona:Youth & Vision: Pilot is recognized as a modern leader who resonates deeply with the younger generation. He often emphasizes the need for job creation, educational reforms, and modernized infrastructure to push the state forward.Patience & Restraint: Known for his articulate and measured speeches, Pilot has publicly emphasized that patience, humility, and truth are the most valuable assets for a leader.Organizational Strength: His supporters highly respect his ability to connect with the grassroots. He has played a crucial role in building the party at the ground level, ensuring that the voices of rural communities and farmers are heard.Commitment to Progress: Followers often see him as a symbol of progressive change and inclusive development, consistently advocating for a brighter future for the youth of Rajasthan.
N K Ved

Indians must rejoice at the success of the Modi Government. Article 370 has been removed successfully, the long standing Naxalite problem has been conquered, Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators are on the run, Foreign policy of the government is not only independent but also very successful, hostile neighbours have been handed out lessons they will never forget, peace and law and order prevail all over the country, infrastructure is growing apace and economic growth is continuing at such rapid pace that India is likely to overtake the USA in the next fifty years. No wonder the opposition is in tatters and everyone wants to join the BJP.
Vijay Kumar
Nagma Mallick
She has only the final say in every aspect of Indo-Japanese relationship. All the background work is done by a dedicated in New Delhi in coordination with Team India in Tokyo.
Aman

Government should open or merge banks exclusively for labour & salaried classes with no loan facility for corporates. Merger without employment generation is of no use. Like IDBI & SIDBI banks for Migrant labourers should also co-exist.
K G Krishnamurthy
Banks merger
SBI, Indian Bank, CBI & BOM are in one IT platform Banks. This facilitates ease in transition among the work force & as well as the customers to adopt with fewer changes. Apart from SBI, the Banks be named as with anchor Banks as suggested in the brackets be explored - South Bank(Indian Bank), North Bank (PNB) East Bank(union Bank of India) , West Bank (Bank of Baroda) & Central Bank(Canara Bank) with out the present existing names will also help that a Bank is retained and all others are merged to it.
Bathula Nagarjuna

The appellant sought the details of employees appointed under the Reserved Quota in the Assistant Grade-III cadre in the Food Corporation of India in a specific proforma. The PIO replied that an information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question and denied the information. Before the CIC, the Respondent submitted that the appellant sought information about SC/ST/OBC employees in Assistant Grade III Cadre from 2021 to 2024 along with their verified caste certificates in a tabular format given by him. The respondent submitted that there are around 6000 employees in their department and the compilation of the sought information in desired format would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority. Hence, the aforesaid information was denied U/s 7(9) of the RTI Act. During the hearing, the respondent additionally pleaded that the caste certificates of the employees are exempted U/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. On query by CIC whether the respondent confirms for placing on record his plea for exemption U/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act as the same was not earlier mentioned in reply of the CPIO, the respondent confirmed. The CIC observed that the respondent gave an appropriate reply to the appellant. The CIC held that the respondent has pleaded additional grounds that the sought information is exempted U/s 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act during the hearing, and the same is also found to be appropriate. The CIC rejected the appeal.
Comments
Additional grounds which were not considered earlier can be asserted during the hearing before the CIC. Even the grounds for rejection of the information can be changed withdrawing the earlier clause and replacing it by a new one.
Citation:Yashwant Rao Hedau v. Food Corporation of India, File No: CIC/FCIND/A/2024/640832; Date of Decision: 23.01.2026
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

1994 batch army officers have probably not even made it to Major General rank. But these IPS somehow get to be HAG+. Lt Gens equivalent without any training,
A Visitor
No chance of alignment
There is a zero chance of shiv sena ubt aligning with the BJP. The entire Maharashtra is fed up with this version of politics done by BJP & Shinde.
M K Singh
New norms of leadership and hindutva
I guess it’s safe to say that chanda chori, minority abuse, mob lynchings, fake encounters, land encroachment, and arbitrary bulldozer raj are the new norms of leadership and hindutva. great going. jai shri ram applies here too, i guess.
R Yaddu

Some of the bitter truths of the time we live in or to say, a distilled look at the forces that is shaping our world today. Wisdom seems scarce, though information is available in abundance in today’s world, thanks to the fast emerging social media platforms or hundreds of news channels available at our finger tips. We live in times where we see many humans at every nook and corner but not humanity and the genuine human connection appear to be fast declining. If any unforeseen happens or is happening to any unfortunate, we are ready with our mobile to capture video instead of going ahead to help the victim. Is it not true? Speed is the new norm, patience the new luxury. No one has patience everyone is in a hurry. If anyone has patience, it is becoming a luxury in this fast moving world.
We live in times where the rich have more rooms than children whereas the poor have more children than rooms. Show any bungalow or farmhouse which is full of inhabitants whereas it is an easy sight to see many dwellers in a small thatched hut overflowing out from the room. Similarly, connection – be it by way of Facebook friends or Instagram followers - is everywhere, but loneliness is prevalent. People are more digitally connected than ever, yet loneliness, emotional isolation and superficial relationships are widespread. Technology connects our devices but divides our attention. We live in times where smart phones bring you closer to those who are far, but distance you from those who are closer. We can reach anyone instantly, but we struggle to be fully present with the people right in front of us or in our immediate neighborhood. It is a common sight to see people glued to their devices inconsiderate of people present nearby. We are globally connected, yet existentially isolated. We have never been so interlinked, yet many feel profoundly alone as never before.
Now, the situation is such that we know more about the world, but less about ourselves, that is, external awareness is rising, whereas inner awareness is declining. Choice has exploded, satisfaction has shrunk. Endless options can paradoxically make decisions harder and happiness more fragile. It is unfortunate to witness a time where we find a single mother looking after ten children but ten children cannot look after single mother.
Progress is real and so are its shadows, meaning we have achieved extraordinary breakthroughs in almost every field, but each innovation brings new ethical, social and environmental questions. We live in times where many know the price of everything but not the value of anything. This is a time where voices are amplified, but truth is contested. That is, everyone can speak, but not all voices illuminate. We live in times where our contact lists are huge but our relationships are poor. We live in times where the rich walk miles to digest food while the poor walk miles in search for food and water. We live in time where our possessions are more but our appreciation is less, meaning to say, we are richer in comfort but poorer in contentment. Unlike yesteryears, life has comparatively fewer physical struggles, yet mental and emotional burdens have drastically grown now. We chase visibility more than authenticity, that is, being seen has become more important than being known.
We live in time where we know how to earn a good living but somehow forget how to live a good life. Deep down, we sense that something essential is slipping away, not because the world is ending, but because we are forgetting how to simply be human. The trend has become such that a human may wish he be reborn, if at all, not as a human but instead any other kind of birds or animals who seem more peaceful and content than we humans are, it is a different matter that even their lives have been made miserable and dreadful, thanks to us, the Humans. To conclude, people need to rediscover compassion, meaningful relationships, gratitude and the essence of being human before these qualities are lost amid the pressures of modern life.
Yours truly,
Subbiah Sridhar

It’s high time we had a fauji veteran as Defence Minister... If you do a search, you will find that a number of countries have military DMs .. coz the military officers would understand the military issues ..
A Visitor
Shiv sena and cabinet berth
Not to forget that Shiv Sena now has 13 MP's in Lok Sabha that is one more than JDU so they will also get one Cabinet berth and one MoS berth like JDU TDP
M G Snu
Pradeep Sharma
Pradeep Sharma Ji is one of the finest Police Officers in India. He is an inspiration to many young people, especially those who aspire to join the Indian Police Service and serve the nation with the same integrity and excellence. His approach of sensitive and compassionate policing is truly commendable.
Antariksh Siingh Rathore