Whispers Forum

This figure is worrying that the amount of fraud related to Unified Payment Interface (UPI) increased to Rs 1,087 crore in 2023-24, which was 85 percent more than Rs 573 crore in 2022-23. That is, with this extraordinary growth in the country's digital payment landscape, the cases of fraud have also increased. The figures recently presented by the Union Finance Ministry before the Parliament confirms this. Cases of payment fraud also increased from 7.25 lakh in 2022-23 to 13.4 lakh in 2023-24. In the first half of the current financial year, 6.32 lakh cases of UPI payment fraud were reported in India. These involved an amount of about Rs 485 crore. These figures are worrying and may affect those who use it in future.
Aditya Malviya

Information about GST returns were denied by the PIO taking recourse to the Section 158 (1) of CGST Act, 2017. The CIC referred to the Delhi High Court judgment in Chief Information Commr. v. High Court of Gujarat, (2020) 4 SCC 702, dealing with the disclosure of information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with reference to Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. It was observed that while the Right to Information Act is a general law concerning the disclosure of information by the public authorities, Section 138 of the Income Tax Act is a special legislation dealing with disclosure of information concerning the assesses. The CIC agreed with the stand taken by the Respondent in denying the information and held that intervention is not warranted in the matter.
Comments
The supremacy of RTI Act by virtue of Section 22 has been the issue for interpretation in different cases. Section 22 provides that the provisions of RTI Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any law other than this Act. The proponents of the RTI Act have vehemently argued that information can be denied to an applicant by taking recourse to only section 8 or section 9 of the RTI Act.
Citation: V Bethuran v. O/o the Commissioner of CGST & Central Excise, Madurai, File No: CIC/DGSTX/A/2023/130359; Date of Decision: 03.10.2024
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/

Election strategist Prashant Kishor, who founded the Jan Suraaj Party in Bihar with great enthusiasm, suffered a huge setback in the first election itself. Prashant Kishor, who claimed to set the direction for the 2025 assembly elections with the help of by-elections held on four assembly seats in Bihar, has been rejected by the general voters in this election and people have given a message for the future by voting for the NDA camp. Although PK has described the ten percent votes received by the Jan Suraaj Party as a good start, there is a discussion in the political corridors of Delhi that PK, who claimed to make other parties win with his advice, has been out on zero in his first innings itself.
Neha Ahirwar

After every election, the opposition parties put blame on EVMs if they suffer defeat. Obviously, political parties are constantly accusing constitutional institutions due to their vested interests. The things being said about the EVMs have been rejected by the Supreme Court many times. On Tuesday also, the Supreme Court bench rejected a similar petition and rejected the demand to conduct elections with ballot paper. Various High Courts and Supreme Court of the country have given verdicts on the EVMs, despite this, whenever there is defeat in the election, the defeated party or alliance blames the EVM for it. After the assembly elections of Jharkhand and Maharashtra, the defeated parties made very strange allegations. Their argument was that the ruling party deliberately made the opposition win the election in Jharkhand so that the irregularities in Maharashtra could be balanced.
Aditya Malviya

The recent assembly election results in Maharashtra and Jharkhand demonstrate a key political insight: effective delivery of women welfare schemes can be a decisive factor in securing electoral success. Two initiatives, "Ladki Bahin" (Laadli Bahan) in Maharashtra and the "Maiya Samman Yojana" in Jharkhand, stand out as powerful contributors to the victories of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the BJP-led coalition, respectively. In Maharashtra, the coalition government launched the Ladki Bahin scheme in July. Under this initiative, approximately 2.5 crore women across the state receive Rs 1,500 directly into their bank accounts each month. This scheme has proven popular, with the state government so far depositing Rs 7,500 in each beneficiary's account. By providing this consistent financial support, the Ladki Bahin program has helped the Mahayuti alliance build a strong rapport with women voters, translating to political gains at the polls.
Ankita Kumari

I guess maybe it is right time to consider the re locate ncr or consider a winter capital towards “nagpur / raipur / nizamabad/ northeast cities ” or some other areas with better climate or less risk of air pollution since carrying a oxygen box for everyone and time might not feasible even if it can be done temporary !
soumo rudra
Need more measure to curb air pollution
More measures are needed to curb air pollution- shut down offices and work from home. Shut down shops / malls (perhaps odd - even). Look at vehicular pollution and do graded restrictions including odd even.
Prasad

Why does the CIC follow the law partially? When the law categorically provides for a penalty Rs 250/- per day for delay and there is clear evidence of malafide denial, why a penalty of only Rs 5000/- and not Rs 25,000/-? It is clearly evident that the CPIO has been doing it regularly and has no regrets. Such a weak enforcement of law encourages the law breakers to carry on with their business. The faith of the people in the system is the casualty. Unless the information commission discharges its duty, the cause of RTI would be a lost battle.
Harish Srivastava