Whispers Forum

America had vowed to eliminate the Taliban and kept seizing control over Afghanistan for 20 years. America handed over Afghanistan to the Taliban after 20 years. The Taliban is still alive. Similarly, Israel pledged to annihilate Hamas and carried out collateral damage to Gaza killing more than 46 thousand innocent Palestinians. Israel killed Hamas and Hezbollah leaders but failed to ensure safe release of Israeli citizens in the custody of Hamas. Now, Hamas came face to face to strike a deal with Israel to get released Hamas militants in Israeli jail. Hamas is still alive despite having carried out heavy aerial bombardment on Gaza.
Sunil Kumar

As per guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the period of deputation may not exceed after five years.
Kusum
Congratulations ISRO!
The ISRO scientists and the entire space fraternity of the country deserve applause for demonstrating capability in successfully docking its two satellites and achieving rendezvous in space. Manoeuvring the orbital speed and distance between two satellites is a complex process. The magnificent feat has done India proud. The secret of success lies in the total autonomy and relative freedom granted to organizations like ISRO and the Deptt of Atomic Energy by the successive political dispensations since inception in scientific and technological pursuit. The ISRO is now close to setting up a permanent space station to facilitate further space experiments. This is bound to impact the global order.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Today's cartoon by Aarushi is outstanding! My heartiest appreciation!
Arudran
Good news on Makar Sankranti
Congratulations to the wise voters of India, who ensured that ISRO continues to pursue its mission by giving the 3rd term of office to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recall the treatment meted out to ISRO scientists by the previous government, which served the foreign vested interests in ruining ISRO efforts. The S Band business and concomitant hit reputed ISRO scientists received! And today they are congratulating them! When the prime minister assures the people of “na khaunga, na khane doonga”, exemplary results are achieved at minimum cost: less than Rupees 125 Crore for the docking mission! Soros gang has kissed dust; META’s Zuckerberg has apologised for misinformation on people’s verdict 2024; without wasting precious time the 8th Central Pay Commission has been announced. Delhi took the lead in the Lok Sabha elections by delivering all the seven seats to Narendra Modi. Delhi has to keep strengthening the hands of the prime minister by giving him total support always as the enemy has shifted HQs to Delhi to fight the Indian Nation. Congratulations ISRO , congratulations people of India, congratulations Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the good news on this Makar Sankranti 2025!
M L Gupta

Newspapers are reporting in the last 15-20 days, allegations-counter allegations , against the PM and CM of Delhi on the alleged lavish spending on the renovation/repair of the official residence of the PM and CM in Delhi. Maintenance/renovation/repair of official houses are done by CPWD or State PWD. There are guidelines issued by the Government, which stipulate the expenditure that can be incurred on various official buildings, houses etc. These are sanctioned by competent authority and carried out by CPWD/State PWD. Therefore only these two authorities: CPWD/State PWD can tell the exact amount spent on the renovation/repair of the two houses. If they had deviated from the guidelines, who authorised/permitted the deviations and how they adjusted it in their account? Those are the people who are responsible for the alleged lavish spending on these two houses and not the occupants of these houses. These are the official residences of the PM and CM. The future PM and CM will also occupy these houses.
S Gopal

The appellant sought information about installation of Digital Programmable Water Fountain with RGB Lights and other related information. Before the CIC, the appellant contended that the PWD has not informed the amount of photocopy charges which is to be deposited to obtain the information. The CIC observed that it is a serious lacuna on the part of the Respondent in giving incomplete information to the Appellant. Not informing the exact amount of photocopy charges and the process for depositing the same amounts to obstruction of information on the part of the Respondent under the RTI Act. The CIC directed the PWD to be cautious in future and ensure that such lapses do not recur. The CIC further noted that the first appeal of the Appellant was duly received in the office of the Public Authority and directed the Respondent to be careful and sure while making any submissions before the CIC. The CIC directed to inform the exact number of pages which is to be given under the RTI Act along with total amount and mode by which the same is to be deposited by the Appellant. The Respondent was directed to provide information to the Appellant within a week from the date of receipt of payment. The FAA was further directed to ensure compliance of the order.
Comments
The PIO must be cautious and inform the applicant about the quantum of fee to be paid along with the details of calculation how the amount has been arrived at. In this case, the CIC could have taken resort to Section 7(6) of the RTI Act to order providing the information free of cost to the applicant due to the delay. Section 7(6) reads, ‘Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the person making request for the information shall be provided the information free of charge where a public authority fails to comply with the time limits.
Citation: Piyush Sharma v. O/o the Executive Engineer (E), PWD, New Delhi, File No: CIC/PWDDL/A/2023/132711; Date of Decision : 29.10.2024
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

Lot of posts are appearing regarding shortage of IAS officers. If that be so, let IAS officers posted on deputation in Central Government be repatriated to their cadres. And equally brilliant PCS officers of State Service be promoted as IAS to fill the gap. Why PCS officers are given 3rd degree treatment by IAS, similar to torture by British to Bhartiyas. And in Centre there are direct recruit Class one officers of 36 organised services who can man the senior posts of JS, AS, Secretary and Cabinet Secretary. Why monopoly of only IAS in Centre and State administration? Monopoly of IAS in higher central posts is being gradually removed by PM. Hope monopoly of IAS ends soon, like British masters were removed from Bharat to protect Bhartiya natives. Jai Hind.
Bharath
IAS officer Ghuge's dream
Good initiate! Appreciate your work, thoughts and process towards woman empowerment. Great! Keep it up. All the best.
Prafull Deokate

Responding to certain petitions the honorable Supreme court in the years 1980, 1990 and 1995 passed orders restricting the use of handcuffs, holding them to be inhuman, severe and arbitrary. It was directed that the use of handcuffs should be an exception and can be replaced by putting a security ring of policemen around the accused. The severity of the offence should not be the basis for use of handcuffs which should be used only if there is a real and immediate danger of the accused wanting to escape. A thorough assessment should be made for this purpose which should be recorded in writing and presented in court along with documentary evidence. If it is found that the police have used handcuffs without valid reasons and not conforming with the guidelines by the Court, then it will be considered a violation of human right.
As a result of these extensive and strict orders, the civil police all over the country seem to be playing on the safe side and have almost stopped using handcuffs. Though significantly, handcuffs have not been abolished officially and are available in the police stations and lines. The title of the article in TOI of 27th November 2024, “Khaki under threat: In two years 33 cops lost their lives on duty” highlights the serious risk of being run by policemen while apprehending criminals, especially at night. Policemen in the democracies of western Europe and SE Asia have a pair of handcuffs hanging from their belts, which are used to subdue a law breaker immediately on arrest, so that the threat of assault is minimized. In these countries, the public views the use of handcuffs as a signal that the detained person is no longer free to do as he pleases and not as a degradation of his dignity. Perhaps the heavier wrought iron handcuffs available with the Indian police are not a welcome sight and they could be replaced with modern light weight aluminium alloy handcuffs.
Further, persons accused of rape, murder and even terrorists are being transported and produced in courts in India mostly without handcuffs. The sight of rapists, murderers or terrorists being escorted without handcuffs does not evoke the fear of the law in other wrong doers and is not very reassuring to the law abiding citizen. Forming the security ring around the accused also ties up precious manpower, which otherwise could be used for policing on the ground. Police hold the criminal’s hand and escort him. A compromise with the honorable Court’s orders could be that one end of the handcuff is put on one hand of the accused and the other end is held by a policeman. There are extensive guide lines in Police Regulations of most states and these could be amended accordingly.
More than a quarter century has passed since these orders were passed by the honorable Supreme Court and in the meanwhile increasing population and urbanisation, misuse of social media, newer and deadlier methods of committing crime and an unstable international situation conducive to terrorism have vitiated the law and order situation manifold, as witnessed in brutal murders, rapes where even minors and elderly ladies are not spared, serious accidents caused by drunken driving or over speeding by habitual offenders driving luxury cars etc. call for a stricter response by the police. Easing the norms on the use of handcuffs by the honorable Supreme court could be one way of enabling the civil police to enforce law and order more effectively. The honorable Union Home Ministry and the state Home departments on the request of PHQs could petition the honorable Supreme Court in this respect urgently.
A R Pawar, Ex-DGP, Madhya Pradesh

Instead of showing how many posts are vacant in any service/cadre, it would be ideal showing by WIC how many officers of a particular service/cadre are on deputation to other departments/organisations. It will show the clear picture of actual vacancies in a cadre/services so that UPSC can finalise the number of vacancies in each cadre/service while selecting and keeping the vacancies in reserve.
A R Rao
CBSE should be made more efficient
It is very right. CBSE should be made more efficient in its functioning. It is observed that students had to spend a lot of effort on small issues like correction in their parents' names etc. Also CBSE needs to control schools with reference to fees.
Sunil Shukla