Whispers Forum

One digital arrest gang is reported to have the sensitive personal bank data of more than 20000 pensioners! It is facilitated by various irresponsible public authorities because of unnecessary exercise like KYC. I have sent a mail to the RBI citing the instance of a mass mailing letter about KYC the SBI had outsourced to some contractor with whom the letter seems to have remained for several weeks before being sent to me through speed post. I am afraid the post man often opens letters and has the audacity to talks about the contents. But the personal data like account number and other details, in connivance with the bank staff, falls in wrong hands and finally reaches the scammers. Can the RBI not stop forthwith this absurd routine and frequent exercise of KYC? Especially in the Digital India and smart phones? If Jeevan Pramanan can be done on phone, why not KYC? It will save crores of rupees in a futile exercise and also spare the account holder the bother of getting the latest photograph done? Are constructive suggestions welcome?
M L Gupta

Selections for the apex level posts in Department of Revenue of Members of CBDT and CBIC may be made soon. There is every need to have strong profiling and background checks preferably by top investigative agencies on the probable, to check corrupt or incompetent officers from manning these positions.
Vijay Kumar
Sunita Williams deserves a ‘Bharat Ratna’
Sunita Williams, the NASA astronaut and an experienced pilot, returned to planet Earth from space after getting trapped for nine months. It was a test of her mental strength and a magnificent feat achieved by a US citizen of Indian descent. She has made India proud. I appeal to the Government to honour her with Bharat Ratna. It would also be a tribute to the US's advancements in the field of space technology.
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

A consignment booked on March 7, 2025 for delivery in Gurgaon, Haryana is yet to be delivered as on March 18! Website of Indiapost is so slow and awful and it is very difficult to lodge a complaint. It should be able to verify the status using the consignment. Instead it is asking for all kinds of information which it already has. It is not enough to give the pincode of the delivery post office but it is asking for a post office ID without telling how to find it. Since postmen come on bicycles to deliver, the website is also functioning at that speed. It is futile to expect any official to respond to this. It is suggested that the name may be changed to low speed post.
Subramanian

The PIO denied information sought by the appellant claiming that it relates to internal communication of the Bank and is confidential in nature. Further, no larger public interest is involved in the matter and the information is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(d) of the Act. Before the CIC, it was submitted that the appellant has filed multiple RTI applications and First Appeals and the same have been disposed of within stipulated time frame. It was informed that RTI applications of the appellant are an offshoot of a family dispute between him and his relative (being one of their staff) and the respondent authority is being dragged to such a personal dispute, which is a clear abuse of the provisions of RTI Act. The respondent claimed that in addition to filing numerous RTI applications and complaints, the appellant had also been harassing the officials of our Zone by repeated calls and personal visits to the Branch/Zone. The Appellant has filed numerous complaints against the CPIO, First Appellate Authority of Ujjain Zone and even against the CPIO and First Appellate Authority of Head Office for exercising their functions under the RTI Act. The officials including the CPIOs are under threat of constant attack from the RTI Applicant for no fault of theirs. Malicious attacks are made on CPIOs through lengthy RTI Applications and Appeals. It was also submitted that the appellant's second appeal was dismissed by the CIC vide order dated 20.09.2024 in No. CIC/BKOIN/A/2023/128876 and order dated 28.11.2024 in No. CIC/BKOIN/A/2023/141282. The CIC noted that the reply given by the PIO is evasive and misleading. The CPIO, without applying his mind, has simply denied the information as it pertains to their internal communication and most importantly, the CPIO has not specified any of the exemptions clauses or sub-clauses as enumerated under sections 8 and 9 of the RTI Act. The CIC directed the PIO to revisit the above-mentioned points and furnish a revised reply to the appellant, specifying the correct exemptions clauses or sub-clauses. Regarding the submission of the respondents of multiple RTI applications being filed by the appellant, the CIC observed that the said concern can be taken up in an appropriate matter in the future for want of any similar pattern of cases as well as in the absence of any specific reference of the number of RTI applications filed with the respondent.
Comments
A PIO must know the clauses of the RTI Act thoroughly and the denial of information should be only as per section 8 or section 9.
Citation: Premchand Bangaria v. Bank of India, Mumbai, CIC/BKOIN/A/2024/116770; Date of Decision: 05.03.2025
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

US Reciprocal Tax Policy is a new challenge for India. Reciprocal tariff is imposed to maintain trade balance, protect local industries and prevent unfair business competition. As far as India is concerned, the US remains India's largest export market, accounting for 17.7 per cent of total exports in FY 2023-24. Global trade experts say that India is strategically reducing its dependence on any one country. This approach includes strengthening ties with regions like Europe and the Middle East. At the same time, optimizing the supply chain network is also included. Apart from this, India is focusing on export of finished goods and high-value products from export of raw materials. This is an effort that not only increases export revenue but also ensures competitiveness in the face of rising tariffs.
Raj Ahirwar