Whispers Forum

The appellant sought information from the Directorate of Education about the pay scale PGT teachers working with Universal Public School such as whether there is Pay parity with Government school teachers, percentage of Basic Pay paid as DA etc. During the hearing before the CIC, the Appellant restricted his arguments to the fact that the documents provided to him are not attested or certified by the PIO. The CIC directed the Directorate of Education to provide certified copies of relevant documents free of charge to the Appellant.
Comments
A citizen can seek information about a private organization from the public authority which holds the information. The certified copy of the document can be used as evidence in a court of law.
Citation: Khagesh Chandra Joshi v. Directorate of Education in File No: CIC/DIRED/A/2024/108070; Date of Decision : 25.08.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Why the additional tax free amount was removed for super senior Citizen? I am 82 , No pension, no property only Living on interest Bank deposits. diabetic, prostate enlarged, . I need more than 5 lakhs for medicine alone. No insurance.
Muckadackal PailyMathew
"Peace talks failed due to excessive US demands !!
Trilateral peace parleys have reportedly failed in Islamabad after facing many hurdles as the whole world waited for opening of strait of Hormuz and return of durable peace?
There was total distrust during negotiations as hard bargaining continued in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion.
Let us analyse the reasons behind collapse of talks.
Lack of self-restraint
Prez Trump needed to rein in Netanyahu from attacking Iran's proxy,the Hezbollah. It was considered breach of ceasefire. Lebanon should have been covered in the peace plan agenda. It still remains a flashpoint.
The adversaries failed to refrain from issuing provocative statements amid the ongoing peace process.
Pakistan gained in status
Donald Trump praised Pakistan's role as a key mediator in establishing a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He referred to Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, as his "favourite field marshal".
Analysts believe the shift from earlier adversarial relations to one where Pakistan was trusted as a mediator in regional conflicts is part of a transactional approach, with Pakistan cultivating trust through diplomatic lobbying and, in return, receiving recognition from the U.S
Pakistan ,no doubt, has gained in stature which has surely elevated. People wonder how a country embroiled in adversarial relations with its two neighbours - Afghanistan and India - entered the centre-stage and emerged as a bringer of peace in world politics?
India missed the bus
India unarguably felt utterly sidelined and irrelevant. Its economy will be severely hit. The adverse impact will become evident soon. Worse India failed to take the initiative by virtue of being the fourth largest economy and as current chairperson of the BRICS that has Iran as member. India still has a chance to convert Islamabad failure into an opportunity.
Hope for future
Iran says-No next round?
All things considered, let us hope, good sense finally prevails and durable peace and sanity return to the multi- polar world order. Is there a Plan B?
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

The cases of corruption, exploitation, blackmailing, crony capitalism, have multiplied manifold. And,we keep our lips sealed. Whom to look forward to for solutions, one wonders?The public is confused.
Should one hold the Judiciary, lawmakers and worst of all, the bureaucracy, responsible for the mess we are in today?
It is time for the ruling dispensation to introspect and take corrective steps to arrest the situation from further deterioration. Let the country’s intellectuals, particularly the Media, take the initiative for stake-holders’ consultations.
The citizens are feeling stifled with a sense of helplessness. Where do we go from here, one does not know?
A K Saxena (Former civil servant)

Why is the government taking unnecessary 18 months to recommend the 8th pay commission is beyond understanding? Already everything is a pay matrix and they just have to decide the fitment factor. During 7th pay commission, we suffered a loss of 18+6 months HRA arrears. Unnecessary dragging the issue leads to poor government employees losing the arrears. Last pay commission DA was 135+ and now DA is hardly around 60 per cent. What can we expect in 8th pay commission? Nothing more and expectations are very less. 01.01.2026 DA has not been announced till now and we are calculating 8th CPC arrears.
Mohammed Faizpasha
Attempt to reduce Govt banks
This is an attempt to reduce Govt banks in the view of implicitly supporting private bank owners. To strengthen the bank, the government should allow it to function as an independent body. The BJP Govt waived off the money of SBI 14 thousand crore for Adani then how it will be profitable?
Pragadeesh Ravi
Every entity should be allowed to flourish separately.
I don't think it'd be a wise move. Every entity should be allowed to flourish separately. Primarily, it is a move to bring people’s money in one or a few banks which surpasses the 5 lakh limit according to DGCA threshold
Ajay Kasera

The respondent submitted that the appellant has filed multiple queries seeking confirmation/ implementation of provisions under Central Acts. The RTI applications were timely disposed of and although the queries did not conform to the definition of “information” under Section 2 (f) of the RTI Act, necessary clarification was provided with reference to extant guidelines and OMs in response to few of the RTI applications. The CIC observed that appropriate response has been given by the CPIO in all the second appeals, as per provisions of the RTI Act. The CIC noted that the RTI requests of the appellant do not strictly conform to Section 2(f) of the RTI Act as the appellant had sought for answers/clarifications to speculative and hypothetical queries. Further, the CIC pointed to the appellant that as per the mandate of the RTI Act, outstretching the interpretation of Section 2(f) of the RTI Act to include deductions and inferences to be drawn by the CPIO is unwarranted as it casts immense pressure on the CPIOs to ensure that they provide the correct deduction/inference to avoid being subject to penal provisions under the RTI Act. The Commission observed that 86 second appeals were disposed earlier arising out of RTI applications filed by the appellant before several public authorities wherein similar speculative and hypothetical queries were raised, calling for no relief under the Act. In addition, 18 appeals were disposed of in CIC/CICOM/A/2024/658048 & Ors, vide decision dated 25.07.2025. It is appalling that despite having scheduled multiple appeals for hearing with advance notice, the appellant failed to appear before the Commission, which has caused unwarranted loss of time and public resources. The CIC advised the Appellant to make judicious use of his right to information in the future and to desist from filing repetitive RTI Applications as Appeal(s) emanating from the same are liable to be summarily dismissed henceforth. The CIC held that the Respondent(s) are also at liberty to rely on the instant decision in the event that the Appellant files same or similar RTI Applications in the future.
Comments
Repeated filing of RTI applications on identical issues causes a drain on the resources of the public authority. The observation by the CIC held that the Respondent(s) are at liberty to rely on the instant decision in the event that the Appellant files same or similar RTI Applications in the future could provide relief to the DARPG.
Citation: Rajnish Ratnakar v. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, econd Appeal No. CIC/DARPG/A/2024/ 658235 + 651529 + 651501 + 651490 + 651477 + 650798 + 650846 + 650819; Date of Decision: 09.09.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

The term of the current West Bengal Assembly finishes on 14th May. If Elections are postponed beyond that date Presidents Rule will automatically be imposed .Then the stigma of having dismissed an elected Government doesn't stick.But Home Minister thinks otherwise .He vows to stay put in Bengal for the next 15 days. So it doesn't look like GoI is thinking of either postponing the Elections and implementing Presidents Rule. Of course should Mamata provoke another Malda and try to terrorize the Officers of the court Supreme Court may step in. Mamata on her part WANTS Presidents Rule so she can play the victim card. If Bengal is to be? salvaged it needs a loooong period of Central Rule.
Jayonto Chatterjee
No economic threat
The government itself claims that there is no economic threat and no need to fear, in parliament. Rallies are being conducted for elections on a massive scale. No cut on those expenses. It means that government is on sound side of economy. Any intention to curb the DA DR on Central Government employees, will certainly reflect in their upcoming state elections. Also, request the media to regularly raise this point, so that this news is not submerged upon ongoing war news.
Kunal Bisra
Step motherly treatment
Why govt is unfair to pensioners. It can distribute freebees to win elections but not willing to pay our dues, be it in the name of COVID, in west asia disturbances. Why step motherly treatment to your own employees who served you for long years of their life.
Sunita Saxena

Sir, Recent reports indicating that only a handful of empanelled senior civil servants have been appointed to top positions reflect a deeper, systemic issue within public administration. This is not an isolated development—it mirrors a broader pattern seen across institutions in India, where transparency in appointments and decision-making often remains limited. A similar concern is increasingly visible in institutional setups where senior officers are sidelined or kept uninformed, while relatively junior functionaries are elevated to positions of significant authority. Such practices not only undermine institutional integrity but also erode morale among experienced professionals who bring stability, continuity, and depth of understanding to governance. Equally troubling is the perception that individuals with questionable records are being entrusted with leadership roles. If left unaddressed, this trend risks weakening administrative credibility and public trust. Institutions thrive on merit, accountability, and ethical leadership—any deviation from these principles can have long-term consequences. Another dimension of concern is the continued dominance of retired personnel in key administrative and confidential positions. While experience is valuable, over-reliance on retired officials may inadvertently stifle innovation, limit opportunities for younger professionals, and perpetuate legacy systems that are no longer aligned with present-day governance needs. There is an urgent need to move towards a more responsive, transparent, and merit-driven administrative framework. This includes: a) Ensuring fair and transparent appointment processes b) Strengthening accountability mechanisms c) Encouraging institutional participation and communication across all levels d) Undertaking large-scale recruitment of capable young professionals to infuse new energy and ideas A balanced approach—where experience is respected but not monopolized, and youth is encouraged but not unchecked—is essential for institutional renewal. Administrative systems must evolve to reflect the aspirations of a dynamic nation, where efficiency, integrity, and inclusiveness form the cornerstone of governance.
Prof Murugesan

Trust that the new secretary of pensions and pensioners welfare will be kind enough to appreciate the plight of EPF 95 pensioners whose minimum pension is a princely amount of Rs 1000 per month and about 65 lakh pensioners are struggling to get a decent increase in their monthly EPF 95 pension. Unless some miracle happens by an increase in the monthly pension, a famous saying can be aptly applied here' secretaries may occupy this chair and after a few years get transferred but the Rs 1000 pension will go on forever.'
K Srinivasa Rao
Gvt never gives pays Commission arrears
Center never gives pay commission arrears. Instead they will adjust. Delaying the process for a long time. Hence after getting confirmation only we can. Up to time please don't post. Government didn't mention fitment factors yet by the committee. After 2028 they will till bit changes. One can expect the salary must have raised up to Rs 5000 only. That too is not confirmed.
Mahindran D