Whispers Forum

BJP in face of Petrol-Diesel price rise, Sawarn Andolan and above all the Farmers Unrest has been advised following ShrimadBagwadGita shloka-
हतो वा प्राप्य्सी स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोग्यसे महीम I
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठकोंतैय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय II
(If you loose in war you will get swarg, if you win you will enjoy ruling this earth. Hence get up with determination to fight the war)
The message is that get up and act on the popular issues immediately before it is too late. Relief to farmers by farm loan waiver, reduction in taxation on petroleum products to reduce petrol -diesel prices are need of the hour. If you go by the financial norms and advise of the bureaucracy at this juncture then you may not be there to take decisions later ! And if you take popular decisions and still loose then the others (winners) will bear the financial brunt of that ! Hence fearlessly take popular decisions.
Mahadev
Why 1990 IAS left out ?
Posting orders of 1989 batch IAS as Additional Secretary has been issued on 17.09.18. When will 1990 IAS get their orders for posting as Additional Secretary ? Both batches were empanelled together on 19.07.18. Whispers should throw light
R Kumar

Let me come straight to the point. Continuous rise in prices of petrol and diesel has a ripple effect on the wholesale and retail inflation .Petroleum ministry seeks to justify this on account of global crisis, on which it has no control. I am not an expert. But, the argument seems largely fallacious.
Let the Governments at the Centre and States take some innovative steps by way of austerity measures, on which they have control. No instructions have been issued by the laidback Finance Ministry to limit expenditure on petrol and diesel. Ministers , bureaucrats and public sector executives rampantly misuse the facility. No restrictions, no accountability.
Another suggestion for Government’s consideration. PM Modi has always laid stress on having a smart bureaucracy. Having a slim-trim bureaucracy will eliminate unnecessary drain on public exchequer. Ground realities are, however, different. Failure of bureaucrats who are good advisors but bad implementers.
Ministry of Finance is expected to be pro-active in curtailing its non-productive expenditure. To have a smart bureaucracy at the Centre and States, for instance, posts of Directors, Addl Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Addl Chief Secretaries etc are redundant. Similarly, posts of Addl Commissioners, Joint commissioners, DDGs, ADGs are being created in several ministries under garb of Cadre restructuring. No one cares to examine whether there is matching increase in responsibilities and workloads.
Worse, posts of consultants are being created at the Centre and States with impunity to favour the favourites from outside or rehabilitate the retired bureaucrats. There is a big scam introduced during the UPA regime, that continues till date. This is no way to create employment. Services delivery mechanism continues to be hopeless due to failure of Right to Services Act. Penalty clause is never invoked
Public would be comfortable with a lean, thin and smart bureaucracy in this digital age. But, accountability is imperative. Maximum Government means Minimum Governance and Maximum corruption. Political Executives and bureaucracies across the country, are expected to lead by examples Political rhetoric may not impress the gullible voters.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Appellant acknowledged the receipt of the letter from CBSE, New Delhi dated 29.04.2017 seeking a fee of Rs.2/- per page for 40 pages of information to be furnished to him. He contested that since the reply was received beyond 30 days, no fee could be deposited by him.
Regarding the plea of the Appellant regarding disclosure of information without any charges, the CIC observed that no response was provided to the Appellant within the mandatory period of 30 days from the date of RTI application, hence the information should indeed be provided to him, free of cost.
Comments
As per Section 7(6) of the RTI Act, 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 specified of 30 days prescribed u/s 7 (1).
Citation:Mr. Pawan Kumar Sharma v. Central Board of Secondary Education in Complaint No.:- CIC/CBSED/C/2017/140614-BJ, Date of Decision: 31.08.2018
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/

OPINION
As far as popularity is concerned, Narendra Modi is ahead. As far as business vision is concerned, Zenping - a shrewed politician - is ahead.
V Kumar
Worrying and proud fathers !
''My sons are so much blessed, proficient, and lucky in business that whatever they touch turns out to be gold, ''said a CM to his close friends. ''Bilkul ji, bilkul ji, pardhan mantri banange, ''The sycophancy orchestra, would tune in. Such talks of son-shines have been often heard in the country and the states for more than half a century. Even though, the entire world knew about the loot, plunder, dacoity, deceit, fraudestry, intimidation and blackmailing resorted to by such lucky and business savvy sons, but the all-knowing fathers would never even pretend to know of the dark side of the picture, even if those brilliant sons are beaten cats and dogs by the brave Army men for eve-teasing. Contrarily some fathers would never say good about their sons and look at only bad side.
Long time back, when I had joined the civil service in a very far off place from my home town Amritsar, I came across a meeting with two gentlemen, which is permanently engraved in my memory. My friend Kahan Singh (fictitious name) was district head of food and supplies department. He told me that his friend, who was a deputy secretary in the state government, would be coming to him, so I should also join them .That deputy secretary was a very well-known officer of the state government, so I was very keen and excited to be in his company. The very first sentence coming from his very composed face, in almost inaudible voice was, ''Your parents must be very lucky .'' He meant that since i had joined civil service ,so my parents were lucky. After usual pleasantries, he became more serious, which appeared to be part of his personality. My friend asked in chaste Punjabi, ''Saade bhatijyan da ki hall a (how are my nephews doing)? ''He was asking about his 4 sons .He turned his head near my friend's and very slowly said, ''Yaar kahan singh , ki dasan, chare e barhe nalaik ne , na parhde ne na likhde ne (frien kahan singh all the 4 are idiots not taking interest in studies''!).Though both were friends, kahan singh would very often address his friend as sir.''I have heard sir, they are very intelligent, ''kahan singh said with some anxiety. ''nahi yaar, wade ne hun BA kiti a sirf second division vich, baaki 3 v nalayak (no, my friend ,the eldest has passed BA in 2nd divisions, other 3 are also duffers),'' worrying father was saying in dejection." "Kahan, I know Food and Supplies Minister is very well known to you. Please get my eldest son recruited as sub-inspector in this department, so that my worries are reduced, ''said worrying father. ''But Sir, it is my humble submission that he should do post graduation, otherwise no difficulty in getting him this job'', said my friend. But deputy secretary sahib said, ''Set the ball rolling for his job.''
Four years later, my friend Kahan Singh met me in sector 17 market. He jubilantly announced that his nephew had got into the IAS in the first attempt. He reminded me of his deputy secretary friend ,whom I had met along with him long time back. ''Yaar, dekho, oh kehnde sann sub-inspector banwa de, te oh Indian Administrative Service vich aa gaya''. Dev Anand wanted to sit in ICS Exam, but his father rather suggested him to join some bank as Clerk. Dev Anand did not forget this incident and proved his legendary worth and talents. Once ,when my deputy commissioner, sent me to Chandigarh for some important work , I met the second handsome son of our worrying deputy secretary sahib. He was joint secretary in the PWD B&R department. I came to know that his other two sons had joined IRS, All the four sons reached the highest pedestals of their careers before retirement. I still feel that the proud father of these illustrious sons must still be worrying about them in heaven.
Surinderjit Singh Sandhu, Amritsar

OPINION
Assessing relative popularity of world leaders, may not be possible in absence of facilities for conducting surveys in such a large sample comprising several countries. One has no option but to rely on familiarity with world politics and the public support one enjoys in one’s own country. Consider them one-by-one.
Trump, the Commander-in-Chief of the world’s greatest economic and military power is unpredictable, diplomatically naïve and business centric in international politics. His decision to stop “subsidy” to India and China, the US being a “developing country”, is shocking. As per media reports, some bureaucrats have reportedly joined the “ resistence movement” against Trump. This weakens his position.
Putin is considered the smartest,richest and the most difficult negotiator in the world. Ruling Russia since 2000, Putin and Xi through their joint military war games gives a clear message to the loud-mouth Trump that they could partner up in a military entente in the event of a confrontation with Washington if their interests are threatened.
Xi Jinping has a personality cult. Universally known as a treacherous, untrustworthy, over-ambitious leader, he follows China’s perennial policy of territorial aggrandizement. He has an aura of power and unchallenged authority in his country.
PM Modi remains popular in the second most populous country.He has also emerged as a key figure in international efforts to tackle climate change, as global warming affects millions of people across the world. Though he enjoys personal rapport with numerous world leaders, his failure to neutralize Opposition’s negative propaganda within and on foreign soil ,is worrisome.
Conclusions
All things considered, it may be reasonable to put Vladimir Putin at No1 in popularity rating followed by Narendra Modi at No 2 ,Donald Trump at No 3 and Xi Jinping at No 4
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)
IAS, IPS officers committing suicide, a dangerous trend
Of late, young officers of the IAS and IPS have unfortunately been found to have committed suicide. This is a dangerous trend and needs to be arrested immediately. Thorough inquiries into the incidents at Buxar and Kanpur are required to see if there was any culpability in any quarter.. Further, there is a need to have a national helpline for the distressed and depressed of India.
Vijay Kumar
"Na khaunga, Na khane Doonga"
What happened to the hefty slogan- "Na khaunga, Na khane Doonga".
Parth

OPINION
C K Joshi
World policy is still decided by US President Trump and not by any other leader.
P Mahadik
Extension of Lal Dora in Rural Villages in Delhi region
AAP Government has requested Central Government to extend the Lal Dora in all Rural Villages in Delhi region. This would imply to provide basic amenities to village people. I am of the view that it is necessary to extend the territory of the village area keeping in view the growing demand of residential area and the prices of the land in semi urban areas. Having no other options but to live the agricultural area converted into small pieces of plots acquired from the colonizers, the agricultural land is being converted illegally by the so called colonizers into small plots and, thus, creating another slums in the agricultural area without providing basic amenities to the people who purchased from the big colonisers. Colonisers have been grabbing the land from the farmers who are in urgent need of money at a comparatively low price on the one hand and sold out the entire land after cutting into small pieces of plots to the homeless people without doing anything and thereby minting money on the other. It is the need of the hour to extend the lal dora territory of the rural villages in Delhi. Simultaneously, Government should provide ownership title who are the owner of the plots. The plots acquired from the Property Dealers/Colonisers illegally without before the extension of lal dora of the villages should be treated as null and void and illegal.
Ved Prakash Sharma

OPINION
Col Kuldeep Dhawan
Data with RTI
There is opacity in the functioning of most of the departments of the government. It would be proper if all the departments follow the advice of the information commission and put their data on the website. Is it not against their work ethics to not follow the rule of law ? When the law requires that the public authority should put the information in public domain proactively, why have they not done it in the last 14 years? The RTI Act has come into existence in 2005 and even now, the compliance of section 4 remains a pipe dream.
Subbalaxmi Aiyyer
When will posting begin ?
When will the posting of 1989 and 1990 IAS as Additional Secretary begin ? This is delaying the grant of NFU of 1987 & 1988 (other Central services )
R Kumar

OPINION
Only Narendra Modi.He is innovative,imaginative and takes hard decision .
S K Raut former DGP MP
No dilemma for BJP
There is no dilemma for the BJP. The SC-ST ordinance is actually a brilliant strategy. It will ensure that the formidable OBC and SC lobbies never get together in UP (because the two lobbies do not see eye to eye in the context of the SC-ST ordinance) to oppose the BJP. Thus the prospect of formidable opposition unity will simply evaporate. Once UP is delivered to the BJP, the rest of India will follow. Hats off to the master strategists!
Vijay Kumar

An application was filed to DDA seeking information about the execution of a Will and raising some queries related to mutation of the said property. The appellant submitted that a property was mutated on the death of her brother in favour of the present recorded owner without her consent. She contended that all legal heirs are required to grant a ‘No Objection’ as a condition precedent to any mutation in property records. She further submitted that two letters by DDA to her as well another legal heir seeking their consent for grant of mutation was sent on wrong address and alleged that it wasn’t a coincidence. On the other hand, the DDA submitted that the mutation was done as per the last recorded will which was registered and there is no requirement of NOC while acting on the basis of a registered will. The appellant questioned as to how DDA would check if the produced will was the last such recorded testament of the deceased which could only authenticated by a NOC. Referring to Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, the CIC ruled that the DDA is required to clarify its extant policy on acceptance of Wills and means to ascertain their genuineness as well as the fact that, they were last testament of the deceased. Being an adversely affected party, the appellant has reason to know the rationale behind the decision of DDA under Section 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act.
Comments
As per the section 4(1)(d) of the RTI Act, every public authority shall provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected persons.
Citation: Ms. Neelam Sethi v. DDA in F. No.CIC/DDATY/A/2017/130398, Date of Decision: 01.08.2018
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is the co-author of the books: RIGHT TO INFORMATION – LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/