Whispers Forum

The present process for recruiting India's civil services needs urgent review. More and more recruits are now joining after repeated attempts -- a syndrome that indicates that service is unable to recruit sharp minds and the focus is on rote learning. Only about 8% of the recruits make it at first attempt.
There is a case for limiting the number of attempts, maybe, to two. This would improve the present situation where thousands of youths spend years slogging in inhospitable environment preparing for the examination and waste a good portion of their youths in unproductive pursuits when they would have been more creative and a lot happier elsewhere . Such reform would also minimise the mess the coaching industry has made of the situation.
Civil service should attract brilliant minds and the recruits should be fairly young, in their early twenties. A person getting into the service, say, after six attempts and in his early thirties, in my view, is a good misfit.
P K Mishra former Secretary Coal
In many states RERA Chairman are 1989 batch IAS officers!
This is regarding your article regarding "In many states the RERA chairpersons are from 1989 IAS batch": You have mentioned that the Chairperson at Odisha RERA is Mr. P.K.Jena. Please check the facts. Mr. Siddhant Das is the current ORERA Chairperson. Please visit the official website of ORERA at rera.odisha.gov.in.
Bimalendu Pradhan

No reform, perform, transform… The Prime Minister has been asking government agencies to reform, perform and transform, but they have only obeyed to innovate. They innovate newer methods of making life difficult for the citizens to frustrate the prime minister’s orders to make ease of living and ease of doing business with the government agencies by twisting rules not to deliver justice or lawful redressal to public grievances or reviving the old munshigiri in the digital India of today. Take the latest illogical, unproductive, costly and wasteful diktat from the RBI asking all bank customers having an account to get KYC done again. These letters have been issued blindly in bulk without caring for the exercise done only last year. The RBI has not prescribed any interval at which it has to be done. I am a central government civil pensioner. My monthly pension is credited to my account. I submit to the bank “Life Certificate” in the month of November every year. I regularly write cheques and carry out transactions. Even then the Bank has asked me to visit the branch personally with documents and photo, get KYC done, failing which they would stop transactions in my account! What an innovation of threat? Arre! RBI you could not catch one bogus account holder so far or catch swindlers robbing the banks of 15000 crores but you hold out a threat to stop transactions. Wonderful innovation. You can’t be expected to do anything better! But let me tell you that you are inviting adverse attention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court for deciding on your threat one day when some consumer challenges your diktat and seeks compensation for agony, harassment, cost of transport etc and inconvenience. Can’t you devise a more positive and productive method of KYC?
M L Gupta

The attested photostat copy of certain letter was denied by the PIO under Section 8(1)(h) of RTI Act. As the FAA upheld the reply given by the PIO, the applicant filed an appeal before the CIC. The PIO submitted that the letter sought for by the Applicant was the communication under which departmental action was sought against the Applicant and it contains the brief of the proposed disciplinary action, details of which were already revealed in the Chargesheet served to him. Upon a query from the CIC regarding the invocation of Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, the PIO was unable to tender any justification except for reiterating that the details contained in the averred letter were already revealed in the Chargesheet. Despite being afforded with adequate opportunity during the hearing to the PIO to justify the denial as required under Section 19(5) of the RTI Act, no tenable explanation was forthcoming. The CIC noted that the information sought for by the Applicant relates to his own disciplinary case. The CIC rejected the denial of the information and directed the PIO to revisit the RTI Application and provide a reply to the Appellant incorporating the available information as sought for therein, free of cost. The CIC granted the limited liberty to the PIO to redact in consonance with Section 10 of the RTI Act, the names and identifying particulars of third parties as well as the personal information, if any, related to third parties, both of which is exempted from disclosure under Section 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
Comment
The PIO must understand that he/she may be called upon to justify the invocation of the exemption for the denial of the information. To justify the denial of the information under Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act, PIO must be able explain what impediment will be caused to an investigation, apprehension or prosecution of offender by the disclosure of the averred information.
Citation:Shankar Ram Verma v. Department Of Posts, CIC/POSTS/A/2023/100589; Date of Decision: 29.04.2024
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

The influence of Indians is increasing in many countries of the world including America and Europe. In countries like America, Britain, Canada, Mauritius and Seychelles, Indians have come to a position to influence the results of elections. In Britain, Rishi Sunak had also become the Prime Minister. It seems that now it is America's turn. In the US presidential election, the Democratic Party has chosen Kamala Harris as its candidate for the post of President. Kamala Harris's mother was a South Indian scientist. Kamala Harris is proud of her Indian mother. She was the Vice President in Joe Biden's administration.
Aditya Kumar

A recent controversy has emerged over the labelling of meals as "Hindu" and "Muslim" on Vistara Airlines flights, leading to heated discussions on social media. The issue was brought to light by a female passenger who voiced her concerns about the airline's food labelling practices. The controversy has highlighted a larger conversation about cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in global aviation standards. As social media continues to amplify passenger experiences and grievances, it remains to be seen whether airlines and regulatory bodies will move towards revising and modernising these long-established codes to better align with contemporary societal values.
Raj Ahirwar

Kind attention to Hon'ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare "It is dark under the lamp" an old proverb seems to be true in the present case. All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Delhi is premier institution of Ayurveda under the aegis of Ministry of AYUSH. It is an autonomous body parallel to AIIMS. Nowadays sr. citizens/super sr. citizens specially CGHS beneficiaries are following alternative systems of medicines and take treatment in ayurveda hospitals. Many ayurveda centres have been empanelled under CGHS and cashless facilities are available to CGHS pensioners. It is a big relief to pensioners taking a cashless facility as indoor patients otherwise it is impossible to make payment first and take reimbursement after submitting MRC form to the concerned wellness centre. At the age of 70+ it is beyond reach. Even in AIIMS the cashless facility is available to CGHS beneficiaries and even separate windows are available for sr. citizens to make the consultation easy. In AIIA cashless facility is not available to CGHS beneficiaries as an indoor patient whereas the cashless facility is available in many private empanelled ayurveda hospitals. It is missing from the apex institute of ayurveda directly under the Ministry of AYUSH. In absence of cashless facility to indoor patients for CGHS beneficiaries is limiting the treatment of CGHS beneficiaries. It is submitted to the Hon'ble Minister for health and family welfare to please consider the cashless facilities to CGHS beneficiaries for indoor treatment in AIIA like AIIMS. AIIA to be placed at par with AIIMS in all respects. No different treatment to AIIA as far as indoor treatment to CGHS beneficiaries is concerned. Submitted for kind consideration and favourable decision.
Naveen

I hope that he uses foreign experience effectively. Banks losing deposits is a concern. He has to keep eyes on NPA, Jandhan a/c holders, privatisation of Insurance Cos./Banks, banks net profit or NIM, unproductive ATMs, Public Grievances, Banks merger, NBFCs UCBs and others, RR Banks sponsored by Banks, coordinate with Cooperative Ministry on Banks, digitalization, misselling of insurance products, governance in Banks and keeping them world class, Banks following national and global norms, health insurance expansion and checking exploitation, empower top leaderships in financial sectors, more NRI PIO investors.
Srinivasan Shankar
RTI
Sir, You may continue to write good things about RTI but the painful emerging fact is that the political class and bureaucracy have taken all possible steps to remove the sting out of the Act. Without any effective deterrence, accountability cannot be enforced especially in an opaque system like ours. It is not to say that there is no impact of the RTI Act, but the positive impact is minimal. Pro-active disclosure is very little and the departments continue to work at a slow pace.
Kushagra Kumar

I hope that he uses foreign experience effectively. Banks losing deposits is a concern. He has to keep eyes on NPA, Jandhan a/c holders, privatization of Insurance Cos./Banks, banks net profit or NIM, unproductive ATMs, Public Grievances, Banks merger, NBFCs UCBs and others, RR Banks sponsored by Banks, coordinate with Cooperative Ministry on Banks, digitalization, misselling of insurance products, governance in Banks and keeping them world class, Banks following national and global norms, health insurance expansion and checking exploitation, empower top leaderships in financial sectors, more NRI PIO investors.
Srinivasan Shankar
RTI
Sir, You may continue to write good things about RTI but the painful emerging fact is that the political class and bureaucracy have taken all possible steps to remove the sting out of the Act. Without any effective deterrence, accountability cannot be enforced specially in an opaque system like ours. It is not to say that there is no impact of the RTI Act, but the positive impact is minimal. Pro-active disclosure is very little and the departments continue to work at a slow pace.
Kushagra Kumar

CBDT Income tax department has done remarkable job processing 3.92 crores return of AY 2024-25 in less than 15 days as per media report. 4.98 crores return AY 2024-25 have already been processed out of 7.28 returns filed till 21st August, 2024. With this momentum it will take another 15 days to complete the processing of all returns filed for AY 2024-25. This is really excellent work by IT department. The proof of pudding is in the eating i.e. the picture will be clear in the first week of September, 2024 when all returns filed for AY 2024-25 are processed and refunds are issued. The tax collection has increased to 20 lakh crores and now focus should be shifted to increase the tax base. It is not investor-friendly to burden the taxpayers only. Last year the average time to issue a refund order was less than 10 days. Too much natty gritty in processing the ITR returns is not tax payers friendly at least in case of pensioners and salaried class. If six parameters are matched the returns can be processed without any riders. Six parameters are, TDS deducted as per 26AS, salary/pension receipt as per Form 16, S/B interest as per AIS, FD interest as per AIS, other income as per AIS, dividend income as per AIS. Other income such as STCG, LTCG can be seen as calculated by the assessor instead of relying on the information from third party. It will reduce the trust deficit between taxpayers and tax administration. Wishing all the best for completing the returns and issue of refunds by first week of September, 2024 for AY 2024-25.
Naveen
Arun Yadav can revive Congress in MP
The man with uncredited stars for the victory of 2018 Vidhan Sabha election. The potential and resourceful politician of congress @mparunyadav can revive the organisation. Most reliable and credible person to his congress workers, he has the ability to bring the congress in the power in M.P.
P Singh

The appellant sought to know the number of times Dr C Balasubramanian MS (ENT), Professor cum HOD, Dept of ENT, Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital was invited for conducting MS / DNB in Otorhinolaryngology postgraduate exams in all of the medical colleges affiliated under Pondicherry University during the academic year 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. The appellant alleged that there is an unwarranted and unethical practice of taking money for passing the candidates in PG clinical exams by the examiner is a clear violation of P.G. Medical Education Regulations, 2000. The information was denied under Section 8(1)(e), (g) and (j) of the RTI Act. The Respondent submitted that irrespective of the fact that the Appellant has only sought for number of times the examiner was invited, the same cannot be provided in view of Section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act, particularly in the backdrop of the Appellant’s allegation claiming several malpractices on the part of the averred third party in the preface to the RTI query. The CIC held that even though it is not disputed that the Appellant has only sought to know the “number of times” a third party has been invited as an examiner for conducting MS / DNB in Otorhinolaryngology postgraduate exams, but being a service matter of that third party, exempt u/s 8(1)(j). The CIC further held that Section 8(1)(g) is also appropriate in view of allegations levelled by the Appellant.
Comment
The denial of information under section 8(1)(j) is strange as the number of times a person has joined as examiner on official duty can hardly be called as personal information of either the individual or the university. The applicability of 8(1)(g) is stranger as no harm to the physical safety can be alleged on the wildest stretch of imagination.
Citation: Er Sureshkumar Jeyakumar v. Pondicherry University, CIC/PONDU/A/2023/101007; Date of Decision: 29.04.2024
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com