Whispers Forum

Whisper in the corridors Forum article by Shri Vijay Kumar is a true prediction in store for the country where there will be a competition by different religious and caste groups to increase their population to get proportionate political and administrative benefits and again merit will become a casualty. What is surprising is the suicidal approach of Congress perhaps due influence of leftist in its ranks when they know that OBC mandal politics was brought by Mr V P SINGH to finish Congress vote banks and therefore these groups rallied behind different state wise OBC leaders finishing Congress countrywide monopoly. Again OBC votes will tilt towards Regional OBC parties/leaders damaging Congress more whereas BJP vote share will remain intact ensuring their almost certain victory 2024 but may also deprive the Nation of a good effective opposition in parliament.
S C Saboo

Certified copies of the bills raised by the counsels in a petition before the High Court, Name and designation of the officials who approved the counsel fees and related file notings were sought. The respondent bank denied the information on the ground of sub-judice. The CIC observed that more than two years have elapsed and information sought was not provided to the appellant. The then CPIO and present CPIO were show caused as to why penalty under section 20 (1) of the RTI Act may not be imposed upon each of them for not providing the information. In spite of the orders of the CIC dated 25.05.2022 and 13.09.2022, the respondent had failed to provide the information as directed. It was informed that the bank had challenged the order dated 13.09.2022 of the CIC. The CIC mention that challenging the order may not be legal ground to circumvent the orders of the Commission. The CIC imposed a penalty of Rs. 10,000- (Rupees Ten Thousand) on Shri Anand Joshi, the CPIO.
Comments Just because the case is sub-judice, information cannot be denied to an applicant.
Citation: Durgesh Kuwar v. Punjab & Sind Bank, CIC/PASBK/A/2019/160744; 05.09.2023
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

These days, there is a lot of talk about the caste census. Jiski Jitni Bhagedari, Uski Utni Hissedari is the new mantra sought to be given by "leaders" of various hues across the political spectrum. It is a most dangerous principle. It will lead to different religious, caste or tribal groups trying to increase their population to either keep up their ratio relative to other religious, caste or tribal groups or to gain an advantage over other groups. In this competitive scenario, the country will have to suffer population explosion afresh. As it is, the country is suffering from the ills of overpopulation. With this new population explosion in the making, all efforts at development will be drowned in another sea of people.
Vijay Kumar

While, discussing abrogation of Art 370 in Parliament, the union Home minister had promised restoration of POK ( Azad Kashmir or Pakistan administered Kashmir to the US) to India. However, with changing geo-political situation, actualising the promise seems a far cry, more so, after the US envoy in Pakistan recent, secret visit to Gilgit-Baltistan in POK. The envoy also visited the port city where China is executing the infrastructure projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(C-PEC).
While, India’s MEA has not yet reacted, the US envoy to India has sought to justify his Pakistani counterpart's visit by drawing a parallel with American delegation recent visit to Kashmir during G20 meetings.Reiterateing the US stand he affirmed that the matter should be resolved between India and Pakistan without the third party intervention. According to media report, he US envoy referred to the region as ‘Azad Jammu and Kashmir’.
On the contrary, India lays claim to the entire Kashmir region, including parts administered by Pakistan beyond the LoC. This is a serious development jeopardising India's hope of retrieval of POK.
Against this background, one wonders whether the US diplomat's secret visit to Gilgit-Baltistan has any connection with the on-going stand-off between India and Canada that has accused India of its citizen's murder. Canada claims its stand is based on shared intelligence with the US, its five eyes partner.
The US does not seem satisfied with India's denial to the accusation. Experts believe that India's knee-jerk reaction, should have been preceded by diplomatic parleys.
All things considered, India's image after G-20 summit, has surely plummeted.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The convoy system in India is a huge mess, and it is especially problematic when it comes to visits by VIPs. The roads are already congested and chaotic, and adding a convoy of vehicles to the mix only makes things worse.
One of the main problems with the convoy system is that it often disrupts traffic for ordinary people.
Recent example is the visit of the Prime Minister to the City of Lakes, Bhopal.
My humble suggestion is that the government should declare a holiday for all the residents for that very day alone, so that people and government both would be at ease and traffic personnel could easily manage the chaotic situation.
Kamaiya Garg

After decades of waiting, the Women's Reservation Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Bill was passed in both the houses of the Parliament. Political parties and analysts have raised the question that when the bill will take several years to be implemented, why did the government call a special session of Parliament and get it passed? It is in fact a part of BJP's strategy in view of the upcoming assembly and general elections. It is an attempt to increase its support base among women voters. It remains to be seen if it really will have any impact. However, BJP will try to capitalize on the issue in these elections that the opposition did not do anything on this bill which was lying in cold storage for years and BJP has brought it to empower women.
Nancy Kumari

Zero cut off for NEET PG admission, although meant to fill up seats for courses for which there are no takers, makes a mockery of the whole scheme. Government must become bold and scrap all entrance examinations and allot colleges and seats by lottery. At least this will ensure equal opportunity for all. Those who cannot cope with the rigors of the course or find that they do not have the aptitude will or should be asked to leave. Government can start by scrapping CUET for undergraduate programmes. It beats one's understanding as to why I should pass an entrance examination to study BA history.
Raghavan

English speaking countries-USA, Canada, England, Australia and New Zealand are really worried of India's ascendance especially after the recent G20 Meet. They are scared of power fulcrum shifting towards China and India and cannot tolerate it. That is why they are tacitly not acting against anti- Indian forces working in their countries. The recent incidents in Canada are proof of this. It is seen that no non-English speaking country in Europe, Middle East, and Asia including Russia, China and Japan not to mention other countries in these regions has entered into this fracas.
Raghavan

Information with respect to the Loan/Mortgage loan/Credit facilities sanctioned to M/s Om Sokhal Builders and Construction Pvt. Ltd including its directors, their spouses, etc. was denied by UCO Bank under section 8 (1) (e) and (j). The appellant argued that they were the buyers and there had been multiple loans on the same property by the builders, their relatives and the directors. The CIC noted that buyers, including the appellant, had booked a flat and because of the apparent malfeasance which had taken place advertently or inadvertently exhibiting lack of due diligence while financing the project as a whole or to the related parties or group industries. The appellant being buyer of one of the flats was not stranger to the subject matter. The CIC observed that the objective of the RTI is to bring transparency and accountability in the functioning of the public authorities. The whole episode had raised doubts on the propriety of the public authority i.e. bank in financing the project. It was also brought on record that there were criminal cases and civil cases pending investigation or final judicial pronouncements. The appellant has only sought information which was in the custody of the public authority and as the affected party, he has a right to the information sought. Public interest demanded that the same may be made available as sought by the appellant for bringing transparency and accountability, as the final rights and obligations will be decided by the respected courts or other authorities. The CIC directed to provide the information.
Comments
It is not uncommon to come across cases where a builder has taken suspicious loans or a bank has granted loans which are being investigated. It is the common buyer who is forced to suffer in silence.
Citation: Radhika Sharma v. UCO Bank, CIC/UCOBK/A/2022/602682, &CIC/UCOBK/A/2022/602617; 05.09.2023
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