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Forum & RTI 3,211 posts · page 40 of 268

Thursday, 17 April 2025
Forum

UGC has to wait for its new boss

The Ministry of Education will know when the UGC chairman retires. Such being the case it is their duty to keep a panel ready for consideration by the ACC.
Krishnaswami Srinivasa Rao
Wednesday, 16 April 2025
Forum

President of India is only Head of State

In other words the President of India alone is “The State”. The Supreme Court of India is not, I repeat NOT, “the State”. The Constitution does not empower the Supreme Court of India to rule over the state. If it chooses to disturb the balance of power and starts a battle with The State, it can be disciplined by The State in no time by resorting to the unconventional methods of running the state. The Constitution makes the President all powerful in essence and the judges serve under a “warrant” granted by the President. The President can withdraw the “Pleasure of the President” in extraordinary situations, irrespective of any dispute that some judge/s might raise in the matter. Impeachment is not the only method to remove an undisciplined judge. The judgement in the governors’ case betrays complete lack of knowledge of the constitution of India and smacks of political leanings of the judge/s. Were the framers of the constitution fools who did not even know what the judges are interpreting or writing in place of the provisions originally made? Can the Supreme Court bring peace and order to any disturbed area in a state or ensure the state government functions according to the constitutional scheme of things or the Governor must do that as a constitutional duty? Why doesn’t the Supreme Court remove this organ if it is so useless, like the tail on human body?
M L Gupta
Tuesday, 15 April 2025
Forum

Constitution safeguards citizens of all persuasions

The Indian Constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar safeguards the citizens of all religious persuasions and weaves them into the mainstream of the society. But some communal forces are trying to dismantle it in order to derive political mileage and lead the country astray and unrest. If the flow of communal forces was not stemmed timely to retain the secular fabric of the society then there would be a worst-case scenario in this country.
Mukesh Kumar
Monday, 14 April 2025
Forum

Maritime border security

The geopolitical scenario of the world is changing rapidly. For India, the Asia-Pacific region and the South China Sea are the biggest pin points. China is continuously increasing its dominance in these areas. In such a situation, everyone has expectations from India to stop China's bullying. America also believes that if anyone can stop China in the South China Sea, it is India. If anyone can remove the obstacles in the way of countries doing business from Asia to Europe in the Asia-Pacific region and assure them of safe movement, it is only India. India has always been advocating a free and open Indo-Pacific region. India's role is now going to increase in the maritime area at the global level. In fact, recently Bangladesh has increased this threat further by inviting China to do business in its region.
Yogesh Mathurs
Saturday, 12 April 2025
Forum

Short term relief

America announced to increase tariffs on China to 145% and reduced the reciprocal tariff to a uniform 10% for other countries while giving 90 days exemption to them. This 90-day relief by Trump cannot be seen as beneficial in the long run. This may improve the economy of many countries for some time, but it is difficult to benefit in the future. Trump is adamant on tit for tat tariff.
Ankita Kumari
Friday, 11 April 2025
Forum

Govt becomes cautious of recession

On one hand, business institutions are feeling restless due to the possibility of economic recession, on the other hand, the government has become alert by taking seriously the global signals towards a possible trade war. It is being said that the central government is making multi-level efforts to avoid such potential problems. Diplomatic efforts have been intensified amid the growing conflict between America and China. A plan should be prepared to deal with the adverse impact on small and medium investors.
Aditya Malviya
Thursday, 10 April 2025
Forum

Surprising appointments of IAS officers as Collectors!

This is surprising that the IAS officers from 2006 to 2020 batch are serving as Collectors/DMs. There should be changes in the AIS rules so that such anomalies do not occur.
S Gopal
Wednesday, 9 April 2025
Forum

Soros To Lut Giyo Bhaya!

Trump’s tariff war is the ‘atmanirbhar’ moment for India in true sense, but devastating strike against George Soros and his pseudo-socialist-secular gang who did their best to defeat Trump in the election 2024 and their partners in international crime from countries like Pakistan, China and India. These fellows are making emergency visits to America to close the accounts with Soros, who might be demanding his 1 bl. spent on them. The fear of nuclear economic winter is American business worry but much less for India for the solid reason that India had shown the alacrity to provide for such arm twisting tactics of the advanced countries by setting up the Tariff Commission in the early 1980s. The difference is worth serious high level studies to work on genuine atmanirbharata coupled with fair trade practices and honest public service delivery. Every day brings media reports of corrupt dignitaries, officers and lower ranks getting caught in cases of bribery. The New India should not breed Choksis, Modis and Mallyas. The headwinds are too strong, even mild whispers of changing the prime minister are most unwelcome, the threat to India’s economy is too real to be dissed lightly, and it is the toughest test for “leadership” in India these next few months; at #3 or9? That is the test.
M L Gupta
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Forum

Trump's policies have devastated the market

After the new tariff policy implemented by Donald Trump, there is chaos all over the world. Trump's decision has caused havoc in the stock markets all over the world. Obviously, the Indian stock market and our investors are suffering the loss. India is the world's largest market. Therefore, the market situation here is still very good and will remain good in the future on the basis of consumption. Experts say that there is no possibility of recession in India at the moment. Apart from this, India will also benefit from the sharp fall in crude oil prices and strengthening of the rupee. Not only this, in the coming time, the Reserve Bank of India can cut interest rates, due to which the country's consumption is sure to increase further. Keeping all these things in mind, the condition of the Indian market is stable.
Yogita Kumari
Monday, 7 April 2025
RTI

Justification for a change in the answer key

For the post of AHO Gr B under the Medical Dept of East Coast Railway Bhubaneswar, certain examination was done. The appellant submitted the representation towards Question No. 97, as the first answer key published the right answer was given option C and the revised answer key mentioned the right answer as option A. The appellant requested to provide a copy proof which justifies the answer A is correct and what is the existing practice in East Coast Railway for stores and works matters. The CIC observed that the reply provided by the Respondent is not satisfactory as the Respondent has not provided the documentary proof to the Appellant. The CIC directed the PIO-cum-Additional Chief Medical Director to provide documentary proof to the Appellant within two weeks.
Comments
The PIO is sometimes faced with a dilemma whether providing a “justification” amounts to creating an information and whether the same is covered under the definition of “information” as per section 2(f) of the RTI Act, 2005. This case law should be read along with Section 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act which reads, ‘provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons.’
Citation: Kumar Swet Kamal v. Office of the Principal Chief Medical Director, Rail Sadan, Bhubaneswar, CIC/ECRBH/A/2023/652155; Date of Decision: 06.03.2025
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
Forum

Promotion after 14 years of retirement

Strange is the rule in our country. Here we read an official getting a promotion after 14 years of retirement. On the other hand, I was denied a promotion in 2005 in BEML because I had less than one year of service though I was very competent to be promoted to a very senior cadre. That is why I termed these things as strange because the top management of the day takes decisions as per their whims and fancies.
K Srinivasa Rao
Saturday, 5 April 2025
Forum

Digital fraud

The advancement of digitization is a positive development; however, it has also led to an increase in malicious activities by hackers. As people become more aware of cyber fraud, fraudsters are continuously evolving their tactics. Initially, cyber criminals relied on sending deceptive links to trick users. However, as awareness has grown, these criminals have shifted to sending images that contain hidden links. When a user clicks on these images, their device can be compromised, allowing the hacker to access sensitive information, including bank account details. Reports of such incidents have emerged from various regions. Unfortunately, the government has struggled to effectively combat digital fraud. While digitization offers many benefits, it can also be distressing for people who risk losing their hard-earned money in an instant.
Nancy Singh