Whispers Forum

The view that the 100 MPs who are first times will lose because of the present scenario is a ridiculous observation bordering on stupidity. These must be the views if pseudo seculars and pseudo liberal analysts who do not have any job except BJP bashing. Nothing has changed , everyone us pleased with the sincere efforts of the present govt in comparison to the previous regime which was dipped in umpteen no of controversies. Gujarat Election is not the benchmark because the newfound friends of the Congress party are trying to extract concessions for their constituency without bothering to know whether their demands have legality or otherwise. Finally the elections are only in mid 2019 and to speculate who will win or lose is sheer absurdity and is not worth publishing in your esteemed columns.
K Srinivasa Rao.
“ Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics; the Untold Stories of CSO “
Explosive revelation by Subramanian Swamy while addressing a gathering of CAs in Ahmedabad on 23rd Dec, 2017 as reported by Indian Express dt 24th Dec, 2017.
Dr Swamy has alleged fudging of Statistics by the Central Statistics Organisation (CSO) under union Min. of Statistics &Programme Implementation ( MOSPI ) in computing quaterly GDP.
Incidentally, the CSO was founded by Dr Swamy’s father late Sitaram Subramanian , a well known mathematician and was a one time Director of the Central Statistical Institute, supposedly a rival to P C Mahalanobis who was the founder of ISI, Kolkatta.
Dr Subramanian Swamyreceived the BSc ( Hons) degree in Mathematics from Hindu College of DU and Masters in Statistics from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkatta.He Holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard University .
In view of above , reinforced by CSO officials’ confession of “ pressures” from above ( Read as Finance ministry ) , Swamy’s innuendos against the CSO’s allegedly unethical practices can’t be taken lightly. A damage control exercise in MOSPI, necessitated by electoral compulsions, is underway.
Heads will roll both in MOSPI and Min of Finance. Chaos, noise , anarchy in Parliament.
In order to be fair , I can only say that the practice of unwarranted interference by MOF in MOSPI’s GDP calculation, sorry, manipulation, has been going on covertly for several decades with full knowledge of Secretaries, Ministers and in collusion with senior officers of both ministries. The tool of GDP was misused with impunity during the Congress-led UPA era. The existing dispensation followed the unscrupulous tradition laid down by its illustrious predecessor under possibly, electoral compulsions.
PM Modi was expected to expose the vicious UPA practice , instead of giving a free hand to MOSPI and Finance Ministry in pursuing the same.
All things considered, India must thank Dr Subramanian Swamy for uncovering the malpractices.
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)

This is being done in cases of all categories of grievances received in the central Government. In fact the grievance should be treated as closed only after a well reasoned reply has been sent to the applicant and copy of the same uploaded on the pg portal of the concerned Ministry/Department and also concerned office. There should also be a system to check the grievance, which is received in duplicate. Once from the applicant himself, then by his/her parents, followed by spouse and then by other family members. It may also be noted that people in the country feel that their grievance is genuine even if it is legally incorrect.
BBS

I am glad to read in today s information that there is 7 fold increase in grievances and time to dispose has reduced.
2. But it is eye wash, totally ineffective as PMO, DPG etc are totally ineffective in monitoring redressal of grievances.
3. Top Railway officers are treating PMO, DPG etc as only post offices as they are not at all caring them, not replying my valid points, not applying mind at their level, even not following latest rules of 2016 of CVC/Railway Board Vigilance Supreme Court, thus harassing me as senior officer for more than a year.
4.Only junior officers are giving some vague reply, with support of senior Railway officers and closing case, without satisfaction of applicant and PM,DPG etc.
It is suggested that PM,DPG should improve their in effective system for proper redressal of grievances so that grievances do not increase 7 fold and no need to give reminders.
Jai Shanker Gupta,
Ex Principal Chief Engineer, Railways.
Seven fold increase in grievances
But the quality of grievance redressal is not monitored and the focus is on disposing off the grievance rather than redressing it. Moreover DARPG also does not monitor the same and is happy to flaunt the numbers
Kalla

The bureaucracy in CBDT has devised a new technique to show PMO that they are redressing grievance quickly. The grievance is simply treated as disposed on the ground that concerned officer has been directed to redress the grievance and that concerned officer has done nothing. thus the figure of grievance disposal is inflated to mislead the PMO. PMO should have grievance with CBDT that it is maligning the image of the govt. I can cite quite a few instances where grievances are still pending and CBDT has treated it as disposed. The second grievance met the same fate.
PMO must have stricter control over CBDT or should post some senior IAS officer in CBDT to handle administration of CBDT. Administrative matter does not need a revenue officer. let him work on technical side of income tax in which he is expert.
Pavan Ved
Commissioner of Income-Tax (Retd.)

Shocking judgement by special CBI court on 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Judicial pronouncement or political narrative, one wonders ?
Bungling by CBI. Its evidences could not stand the judicial scrutiny.
Roles of high net worth industrial houses of India , is in question.
Indictment of former C&AG Vinod Rai raises more question than solve.
Sudden transfers of SP and DIG ,CBI charged with investigation of 2G scam at crucial moment ,was baffling.
“It was not A Raja, but Pulok Chatterjee, in consultation with TKA Nair, as he had suppressed the most relevant and controversial part of the letter of A Raja from the then Prime Minister,” said CBI Special Judge Saini.
Suggestions were made to the ruling dispensation to get T K A Nair, former Principal Secy and, more importantly, Pulok Chatterji, former JS, later elevated as Secretary to the then PM Manmohan Singh, interrogated by the CBI. Their earlier confessional statements to CBI had the stamp of approval of the then de facto PM.
Move to grill former PM’s aides was reportedly blocked by the all-powerful IAS fraternity. Why? And, at whose behest ? And, to protect whom ?
It will be simplistic to suggest that PM MMS was not kept in the loop by his aides. Files on policy matters and appointments were regularly shown to the Chairperson, NAC.
Pulok Chatterji wielded enormous power by virtue of his loyalty and proximity to the Cong supremo. A general factotum to the supremo, he kept shuttling between the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the PMO depending on which party was in power. This was an open secret much before Sanjay Baru’s memoirs “The Accidental Prime Minister, hit the stands.
In fact, Maun Maun Singh was so much enamoured of PM's chair that he chose to remain silent before formalising all oral orders of the Congress supremo, as conveyed by former PM's aides.
UPA’s caged parrot CBI remained soft to PMO officials ? It is understood that PMO officials' statements were legally and officially vetted to remain in sync with Manmohan Singh's stand. All to protect the supremo.
In order to get at the bottom of the truth, extra-ordinary steps are required against all accused. Skeletons in the cupboard will start tumbling out.
For how long could the real perpetrators be allowed to have a free run.
Any secret deal, one wonders?
The ruling political dispensation will have much to explain.
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)

The crime stories in the newspaper are sometimes so chilling that one is left with a very disturbed mind. Rapes of young girls even little babies, murders over small issues, sons killing mothers, brothers killing sisters, the young school boys killing their school mates are daily happening. What has gone wrong with society. Human values have no meaning. Anger, greed, jealousy and ill will have become part of our character. Why? For one thing too much exposure via technology, social media and so-called entertainment industry has done more harm. Then there is no fear of law because punishment for a crime, if at all delivered, comes after a long time. Nirbhaya's culprits are still not hanged five years down the line. When Supreme Court finishes with their review petition, they still have a door to the President for mercy petition. Meanwhile they lead a leisurely life in jail. Reformed jails, it seems is a misplaced idea. With great food, regular medical check-ups, yoga, exercise, TV and busy learning some useful skill being in jail is a comfortable idea than coming out doing work and struggling in life. Incidents of some people being released and then committing another crime to get back in jail have happened. So the prison need to be made a tough place for criminals to deter the crime rate. The trouble with us is that we start bothering about the human rights of the criminals forgetting the victims of their crime.
Aarti Khosla
Steel Minister’s reply not correct
It is right time for PM to purge the frauds, corruption, casteism, regionalism, nepotism in steel Maharatna PSU. The reply given by Steel Minister in parliament for the reasons of loss making is not correct.
A Visitor

How can asking for details of family members and the amount taken from the Government exchequer be treated as personal information. If you give wrong information relating to details about family members and claim undue amount of LTC it can be asked for. The Supreme Court in one of the case has clearly said that 'if any information of about misdeeds has been obtained by hook of crook and it turns out to be true, then it is an enough evidence under the Indian Evidence Act and the person who has done wrong can be booked. It is the corrupt in the Government who are against the RTI Act-2005
BBS
Gupta is a hard working and honest bank official
R.K. Gupta is a hard working, honest and intelligent person and hope for better working and taking the bank to its new heights in the coming time. My congrats and best wishes to Mr. Gupta.
Ram Kumar Garg

Gujarat election will be the case study for political studies and I would say Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have finally passed the toughest political exam of their career
Bhupendra
“ Better late than never ”
Emboldened by the twin electoral victories in Gujarat and HP, PM Modi must now focus on big-ticket corruption by high- networth business houses and individuals rather than run after small rogues.
All are having a free run within India and abroad.
PM Modi won the last general elections on the plank of UPA corruption scams. He had promised to bring the guilty to book.
Some infamous scams are : Bofors, Sathyam (2009),CWG (2010), Coalgate (2012), 2G spectrum (2008) Navy war room leaks, Sathyam scam (2012), Choppers scam (2012 ), Tatra truck (2012), Adarsh scam (2012),Delhi Jal Board tanker scam - ( Rs 400 crores) wherein the Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed an FIR against former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and current Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Saradha group financial scandal and last but not the least Robert Vadra scam . The list is endless.
These scams are crying for prosecution and convictions of perpetrators.
Precious time has been wasted by the current political dispensation, resulting in public disenchantment, disillusionment with the leadership
Is removing corruption separable from Good governance ?
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)

I entirely agree. Such persons should be declared persona non grata and denied visa to enter India W/R to our own they should be publicly castigated for joining hands with an enemy. Will US allow a N Korean to do such things on its soil ? No compromise with the national integrity and honour should be allowed under any circumstance.
Ananya
This Group always work against India
Government of India should take note of this and it is high time they take strict action against them at once. They cannot hide in the name of social gathering. Hope PM is aware of all these things and may be working on it.
Seth

The appellant sought copies of recruitment Rules of NATRIP approved by Governing Council, copies of sanction posts, vacant posts and promotion policies of NATRIP approved by Governing Council, advertisement published for recruitment/tenders etc. The appellant acknowledged that he had received 1000 pages of documents but claimed that they contained either repeat pages or blank papers without providing the information sought by him. It was articulated that the information sought by him was of general nature which would have been placed in the Public Domain in accordance with Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 relating to suo-motu disclosure by the Public Authority. The CIC advised the Respondent to suo-motu disclose such recruitment rules/policy in public domain in compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act to ensure transparency, credibility, objectivity and accountability in the functioning of the Public Authority.
Comments
A voluntary disclosure of all information that ought to be displayed in the public domain should be the rule and filing of RTI Application by the members of public who wish to seek information should be an exception. The Section 4(2) of the RTI Act mandates every public authority to provide as much information suo-motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communications so that the general public need not resort to the filing of RTI Application.
Citation: Mr. S. Murli Manoharam v. National Automotive Testing & R&D Infrastructure Project, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises in Appeal No.:-CIC/NATRI/A/2017/117839-BJ, Date of Decision: 30.11.2017
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/