Whispers Forum

The extremely heavy rainfall over the north-western states including Himachal, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana is unprecedented but it is not totally unexpected. Due to climate change, extreme climate events will become more and more common across the globe including India. So we have to be prepared for them. Cloud bursts, glacier bursts and landslides are slowly becoming a part of our life. But all of us want more and more development and want to enjoy luxuries of life. Mindless development comes at what cost? We all are seeing.
Ritika Malviya

Madhya Pradesh first woman Chief Secretary Mrs Nirmal Buch died recently. Mrs Buch, who belonged to a 1960 batch IAS officer, never retired from the service to the people. Her retired IAS officer husband M N Buch, who died eight years ago, had given a new shape to the city of Lakes-Bhopal capital city. Both IAS couple laid down their lives for the sake of welfare of the State and Nation. This couple rendered social services and was ready to attend all social functions upon invitations. Their contributions to the people will always be remembered. The officers of civil services should draw inspiration from this IAS couple, who continued serving the people until they breathed their last.
Sunil Kumar

Hearing on petitions against the alleged abrogation of Art 370, is fixed for hearing in Supreme court on July 11, 2023. This hearing is understood to be in connection with the completion of formalities due to withdrawal of petition by one petitioner. It would be recalled that Shah Faesal, an IAS officer belonging to erstwhile State of J & K, was misled into resigning from service, joining politics and leading a movement. Falling prey to it, he petitioned the Supreme Court against scrapping of Art 370 by the Union of India. Wisdom soon dawned on him. Consequent upon withdrawal of resignation, Faesal was reinstated. He later withdrew his petition from the Supreme Court.
The batch of petitions will be heard by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in August, 2023. This may take several hearings. During this period, the Pakistan-China axis may play mischievous roles by provoking international controversy in a sensitive matter, especially as a part of C-PEC infrastructure, owned by China, exists in POK.
Aksai chin (38,000 sq miles) has been under China's occupation since 1962. India cannot turn a blind eye to it.
Against this background, India must take coercive steps for taking over POK-G-B forcibly without losing more time.
Pakistan and China will not offer it to India on a platter. Further delay will weaken India's claims to territorial integrity and sovereignty. Enough time is already wasted ever since the union Home minister made the promise in the Parliament.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Appellant submitted that his First Appeal has not been decided till date and requested for directions to the CPIO and FAA to furnish the information as sought. The Respondent stated that the relevant information has been duly furnished to the Appellant. He further stated that the Appellant has been terminated from service. Upon being queried whether any enquiry is pending relating to which information has been sought in the instant RTI Application, the PIO replied in negative. The CIC observed that it will be just and reasonable that a fair hearing be conducted by the First Appellate Authority in the instant matter and remanded back to the First Appellate Authority.
Comments
Wherever the appellant makes a request, the First Appellate Authority should offer a personal hearing before disposing the appeal.
Citation: Dr. Himal Chand v. Centre for Research in Rural & Industrial Development, CIC/ICSSR/A/2022/131473; 06.07.2023
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

Mr. Sharad Pawar founded and established the Nationalist Congress Party with its own symbol, flag and other things. He has been running the party as Chairman to this day. Over a course of time, many others joined his party and perhaps some left all on their own. Now some of them, disgruntled with Mr. Pawar, have chosen to quit. But sheer common sense tells that those who have left on their own cannot claim any right to the party's symbol, flag etc. They belong only to Mr. Pawar, the founder and it is for him to hand them over to whoever he wants. Those who have left out of frustration should form a separate new party with new symbol, flag etc. Even if Mr. Pawar is the only member left in the NCP the Party belongs to him only and no one else. It is like I give shelter to someone in my house for some time and that person turns around and asks me to hand over the house and vacate it. There is no need to go into complicated legalities over this and the EC should simply announce that NCP belongs to Mr. Pawar only and those who have left can form a new party.
Raghavan

It is amazing how just political correction has occurred in Maharashtra. The BJP and Shiv Sena made a pre-poll alliance and won the State Assembly elections about 5 years ago. Then Shiv Sena betrayed the BJP and formed a government called MVA with Congress and NCP. In 2023 the tables have turned. The vote of the people of Maharashtra was for the BJP- Sena Alliance. Opportunity parties like NCP, Congress were shown the door then. Time has ensured that the will of the voters has finally prevailed in 2023. People of Maharashtra have suffered badly in the interregnum. Time to bring back a hard working polity who will meet the needs of the state and its people. Enough of politics and a stable government is needed with its ears to the ground and meet expectations of Maharashtra people.
Devindra

Politics, as per the famous idiom, has always been the last refuge of a scoundrel. So morality can never go together with politics! I appreciate the freelancer website like 'Whispersinthecorridors' to raise issues like the relevance of IB when candidates are found with doubtful integrity after their Appointment by the Appointment committee of the Cabinet. This is happening in several instances, organisations like NHAI, even where the members are appointed who are not eligible and neither the search committee nor the IB could pin point despite records being available black and white. ACC should give certain stricture's in this regard.
Mrityunjay Shah

Concern has been expressed by several members of the civil society about content in visual form on different platforms, including films. It is driving people crazy. The bounds between good and bad stand merged. There is, however, a remedy for all the agitated minds to soothe their frayed nerves: it is also one of the "Rasa" in Indian Aesthetics. It is the "Vibhasta Ras". We don't have to close our eyes, but learn to enjoy it. In fact, it acts like catharsis, as too much of fake news and vulgarity is thrust down our throats under the genre entertainment, that even vibhasta is a welcome potion!
M L Gupta
Decline of BHEL
In the recently conducted interviews for CMD and Director level positions, media reports say that external(to BHEL) candidates-one from Railways and another from NTPC have been selected. Of internal candidates, one has been shortlisted for CMD'S position and another for a Director's position. It is more than likely that Government may not accept the recommendation for CMD's position, citing lack of Board level experience, thus creating the opportunity for the entry of an outsider. When V Krishnamurthy the founder chairman of BHEL was asked about his many achievements as CMD of many PSUs, he stated that what gave him the greatest satisfaction was that more than twenty executives whom he had groomed in BHEL went on to head other PSUs. Today the wheel has turned full circle. Despite having more than 15 executive directors and some 120 General Managers it is unfortunate that outsiders have to be brought in at top levels. This deeply pains old timers and BHEL lifers such as this writer. The responsibility for this state of affairs rests squarely on the top leaders of the last two decades for their singular failure to establish, implement and maintain a robust HR process to identify, develop and groom future leaders for BHEL. What a decline for this once great PSU.
Raghavan

Politics in Maharashtra has been the talk of discussion in power circles even before its last election of 2019.
Whether it was pre-election alliance or post- election result alliance, it has all the elements. In the span of 4 years, People of Maharashtra have witnessed four Chief Ministers and three Deputy Chief Ministers, just with the power of a single vote. Currently, it has more entertainment and suspense than a Bollywood movie, full of twists and unexpected turns, change of power, along with addition, subtraction, and change of MLAs just in a blink of eye.
Nidhi Jain

Referring to the judgment of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court [Union of India v. Central Information Commission & Anr in LPA No. 734/2018 dated 22.03.2022), the appellant sought certain information from CBI. It was claimed that the service related matter is covered under the purview of corruption and human rights violation and as such the information should be supplied by the CBI which is listed in Schedule II. The CIC referred to the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 11.04.2023 against admission hearing for SLP Diary No. 5557/2023 filed by the Union of India against the Delhi High Court judgment. The Supreme Court did not approve the reasoning given by the High Court and kept the question of law open while not entertaining the SLP.
Comments
The question whether Human Rights Violation” as used in proviso to Section 24(1) of the RTI Act can be read to extend all matters where a person alleges violation of fundamental rights has been raised often. Should a violation of human rights be considered in service matters, such as promotion, disciplinary actions, pay increments, retiral benefits, pension, gratuity, etc has been queried. The Apex Court has preferred not to answer the query immediately whether the expression be extended to include controversies relating to service matters and grievances in respect of the disciplinary proceedings.
Citation: Cyril C George v. ACB Cochin, Office of the Supdt. of Police, CBI, CIC/CBRUI/A/2022/148116; Date of Decision: 01/06/2023
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