Whispers Forum

Artificial Intelligence is no match for human intelligence. Asked to answer sample Questions from GS Papers 1 & 2 for CS Preliminary Exam 2022, Open AI's ChatGPT failed to qualify. P. K. Dash, Retd IAS (MP:81) administered the Test, and has written a Blog on it .
Lack of knowledge on citizen's part
Majority of the problems, relating to the RTI regime, is because of lack of knowledge on the part of citizens. The biggest blunder is their lack of ability to make a proper RTI application. 17 years have passed since the RTI came into being. People still think that their RTI applications is a grievance of theirs. They are still not aware that in their RTI applications they cannot ask question, raise queries etc. They also cannot ask for third party information. They are expected to simply ask for information through their RTI applications. A lot of time can be saved, if along with their RTI applications, apart from sending Rs.10/- as basic RTI fee, they can also send some approximate additional amount @ Rs.2.00 per page based on 'say some pages of the document', of the photocopy of the document, which they may be needing. They should most of the time send their RTI application through Speed Post and maintain a copy of their RTI application and the Speed Post receipt. If they do not receive response from the PIO after 30 days, they should wait for 15 more days (in order to cover time of the post travel) and make an application to the FAA. Even again after 30 days, he/she does not receive response from FAA, then he should make his Second Appeal before the CIC.
Anurag

The ignorance of the provisions of the RTI Act and the apathy of the bureaucracy towards it is the prime reason for the decline of the RTI Act. The sunshine act is a pale shadow of what it was originally thought of achieving. The first appellate authority has poor understanding and a pathetic approach which is killing the RTI. With no fear of penalty, the FAA hardly cares about the role they are expected to play. There is hardly any training and the all pervasive environment of secrecy accentuates it. The net result is the poor RTI applicant runs from pillar to post with no information in hand.
V Krishnamoorthy

The recent demolition drive by DDA in Mehrauli New Delhi on the alleged encroached land raises the question of accountability of concerned officials. As per Newspaper reports, many houses are nearly 40 years old. Owners had got their property duly registered in Sub Registrar's office and got mutation done in MCD records. They have done what is legally required of them. If the concerned Land was of ASI, then why were properties registered by Sub Registrar? Obviously the concerned officials in connivance with local political leaders allowed this to happen for "consideration". LG and Delhi Government should find out the history of this area and its development. It should identify all the officials who were in position from time to time and punish them. If not done, it will encourage officials to continue to do such irregularities. Also details of all vacant Government Land should be given to all registering authorities so that they can refuse registration of properties on those lands. One would like to know whether any NOIDA official(s) has been identified and punished for the illegal construction of Twin Towers(which was demolished) ?
S Gopal
Aero India and Security chaos
Absolutely incorrect! I was at Aero India yesterday and there is no such lack of coordination that I witnessed for a large event of this magnitude. Rather, I would say that it was all organised and coordinated in a flawless manner. Another important point, security checks are not for the Air Force or CISF, it is for the good of every single individual who is visiting the show, media personnel included.
Ajith George

Delhi is a half state with multiple centres of power. Consider the following mismatches.
NCT, Delhi jointly administered by (AAP- LG), MCD (AAP- LG), DDA (Urban Development Ministry, Government of India), Police- Law &order (MHA- GOI) etc.
Continuous fight between the LG and CM, Delhi has resulted in utter confusion, poor governance and waste of public time.
Diffused responsibilities and total absence of accountability add to Delhiites' woes. Public grievances redressal system is non-existent, mythical.
The common man suffers hopelessly as the two adversaries continue their blame game. CM, Delhi's demands for control over Delhi Police and a separate Public Services Commission for Delhi, are absurd.
Will the National Capital function effectively under the canopy of a single unified authority and deliver public services to citizens in a time-bound manner? No one is interested in political rhetoric. We want concrete action.
Let the law-makers ponder over it and pass a suitable legislation.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)