Whispers Forum

It has become an unethical practice in the Central Secretariat Ministries/Departments to appoint retired personnel as consultants. All these retired personnel in the name of work experience, get adjusted by the Indian Administrative Service officers who are basically State Government Servant and come on Central Deputation as Joint Secretary, Addl Secretary and kept in the Government of India at Secretary level. Most of the consultants are those who have family relations with the Indian Administrative Service Officers posted in Delhi. The regular employees/officers of CSS and CSSS are kept away from posting. In the CSS, the Sections/Branches where pecuniary profits in kind and cash are involved the consultants are posted. The regular and well qualified employees i.e. Section Officers/US/Dy Secretary are kept away as they would not work against the rules and would not bow down. Similarly, in the case of CSSS, retired promotees are appointed as consultants in the Offices of Secretaries/ Addl Secretaries. The qualified PPS, Sr. PPS, and PSOs are either kept under posting for so many years or below entitlement postings are imposed on him/her with a view to adjusting their domestic promotee retired Private Secretary/PPS/Sr/PPS/PSO. These consultants are failures in the ISTM training examinations also. A number of complaints against these consultants are sent to the DoPT but to protect fellow IAS, no action is taken by the CS Division. This practice has been going on since long continued with the present government. Regular employees have less work and more pay. This shows the recruitment of unethical candidates in the Government of India. DoPT should obtain the data from Central Secretariat participating Ministries/Departments and remove these consultants and post only regular employees of the Central Secretariat workforce in the interest of the Government of India. May God save the Government of India from the clutches of this unethical practice.
B K

I am shocked that the highest temple of law SC is being criticised by many in which a few former retired judges too are a part. Isn't it peculiar, strange, looks like the judiciary is being politicized, it's a great insult. Height is Nupur Sharma who gave nasty hate and divisive comments on Mohammad, due to which so many have died. She is still walking free, and shamelessly has not even apologized to India so far despite the SC directive. Seems we are heading for more such statements from the BJP RSS stalwarts and they all too will be protected by the dispensation. India will keep bleeding like this, it seems. Media the pillar strength of democracy is already under dispensation control since 2014, with helpless citizens and voters suffering.
Harish Kumar
Shinde and Phatak - good vibes
Quite obvious. Eknath Shinde and Mahesh Phatak had good vibes as Minister and Secretary Urban Development II earlier.
Ashok Menon

The public information officers are poorly trained and the implementation of the RTI Act is an additional responsibility that is thrust upon them. They have no incentive to ensure that the Act is implemented in an appropriate manner. The support system is lacking. It is the poor third party that has to lose its private information in the process.
Shruti Hajolia
DoPT Secretary warmly congratulated
Secretary DoPT has to be warmly congratulated for her positive approach towards CSS officers. Hope the same positive approach will be displayed toward IPS officers.
Vikay Kumar

Very demoralizing for IPS officers, who are working on deputation in the Centre or are willing to come to Centre, as their empanelment at IG, ADG and DG ranks are much delayed, at least 3-5 years from their State Cadres, besides even being much behind their IAS/Foreign Services counterparts. This anomaly needs to be removed to attract the best talent for Central Deputation. The morale has to be maintained always high for better internal security and public order, in my opinion.
Sanjeev
Commendable work by Secretary Ma'am
Pending promotions to CSS officers: really, commendable work done by Secretary Ma'am. What a positive approach she has! Unmatchable.
Mandeep
We are grateful to DoPT Secretary
We are very much delighted and indebted to Secretary DoPT for addressing the plight of CSS. We need further support for strengthening our 100+-year-old Service. We will contribute to our best in effective governance.

One of your esteemed readers had suggested some time back that IFoS be used as abbreviation for the Indian Forest Service. The abbreviation IFS is widely used for Indian Foreign Service. So to distinguish between Indian Foreign Service and Indian Forest Service, the abbreviations IFS and IFoS can be used respectively. For kind consideration and implementation please.
K Srinivasa Rao
Promotions to CSS officers, credit goes to whispersinthecorridors.com
It is the result of continuous media coverage on the regular promotions pending for many years in the Central Secretariat Service. Around 4700 officers of CSS cadre have been promoted. Full credit goes to the Secretary Personnel Madam and the entire team of ‘whispersinthecorridor.com’ that kept the embers of issues alive by highlighting time to time.
Gomesh
Thanks DoP Secretary Ma’am for resolving CSS officers’ plights
Ms Radha Chauhan resolves plights of CSS officers within two months. We're heartfelt thankful to Secretary Ma'am for fulfilling her commitment within two months.
Subhash Chander

The unceremonious removal of erstwhile DGP UP Mukul Goel had given grist to the mills of detractors of CM UP who criticised the move as an upapralled attempt to undermine the institution of DGP.
Unfazed by the criticism, the CM went ahead and appointed DS Chauhan DG intelligence as the acting’ DGP.
Within few months of his appointment as DGP, DS chauhan is firmly in the saddle with his low profile but extremely professional style of functioning.
Observers of bureaucracy in UP, regard him as the most powerful DGP of UP in recent history with three most important portfolios of civil police, intelligence & vigilance together. However there is still some time till he gets appointed as the full fledged DGP and strengthens his grip on the department even further.
A section of the media and police establishement also observe that irrespective of the de-jure DGP, the de-facto DGP is CM himself. There has been hardly any CM of UP who keeps himself abreast of the minutest details of law and order and is hands on the smallest of incidents.
Keeping the district police chiefs on toes through regular VC’s, the CM has also ensured the active involvement of the IG ranges and ADG zones who rarely were ventured out in the field except for inspections or sensational incidents.
What amazes the analysts is that the pace with which Yogi 2.0 government has started working ever since day one. This kind of frenzied target setting and orchestrated efforts to achieve it is only seen in the election years. Though it has taken a heavy toll on the police establishments as most of the field officers seem to be ‘burnt out’ while battling out in the field in the Yogi 2.0 government as of nothing has changed on the ground.
To some extent this is actually true as the priorities of the Yogi government on a sound law and order remain as committed as ever. Be it the country wide protests in the country in the afternamth of Nupur Sharma incident or over the ‘Agniveer’ scheme, UP has remained peaceful barring isolated incidents.
The way approximately 79k loudspeakers were voluntary taken down across the state by followers of both the religion, has been quoted across the country as an enviable example.
But all this has been enabled as Yogi Adityanath has evolved a ‘steel frame’ of bureaucracy and conducted it’s business in the classical model of ‘POSDCORB’ enunciated by management theorist Luther Gulick and Lyndall Urwick, which stands for Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting and Budgeting.
Talking of the steel frame of Police specifically, ACS Home Awanish Awasthy and ADG LO Prashant Kumar have given Yogi 2.0 much needed continuity from the maiden Yogi Government. Awanish Awasthi’s workaholism even baffles his critiques who swear by it and his commitment to the chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
Prashant Kumar as ADG LO has steadily and silently earned the trust of CM and successive DGP’s through his sheer hard work & professionalism. His meticulous command of the nitty-gritties of law and order and it’s flawless execution has been one of major reasons in keeping UP peaceful despite its complexities.
Under the directions of CM UP, Awanish Awasthi & Prashant Kumar have together succeeded in making bulldozer a metaphor for a sound law and order across the country.

9 pages of information was provided in response to a request for mark sheets of a third party and related information. On perusal of the contents of the case, the CIC observed that the Respondent has wrongly provided third party information which is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, to the Appellant. The CIC held that such lackadaisical conduct of the Respondent is not in accordance with the extant provisions of the RTI Act. The CIC strictly admonished the concerned Respondent, for providing the same to the Appellant, without application of mind and sternly cautioned them to acquaint themselves well with the provisions of RTI Act.
Comments
A PIO must be well versed with the provisions of the RTI Act to comply with the duties enshrined under the Act. The third-party can claim damages for the loss of personal information.
Citation: Jitendra Bhatt v. Dr. Hari Singh Gour Vishwadidyalaya, Sagar in Second Appeal No. CIC/DHGVV/A/2021/104888, Date of Decision: 17.06.2022
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

This is something called the extended form of nepotism by the bureaucrats. Nepotism doesn't only include favourism to the family members but also to the known one. Such act of appointing with criteria like particular state disrespects the meritrious candidate which impacts the public interest at large and results in high corruption. Media should highlight such acts. I remember few days back CJI stated, the role of Media is not to appreciate the Government but to bring the shortcomings in its the government act so that more transparency and corrupt free administration could be provided to the public. Whispersinthecorridors has always raised such issue in its freelancer news website boldly.
V K Sharma
MGNREGA scheme have become the core veins of Indian politics, both centre and state should coordinate to provide the services to the marginalised section of the society in the same way as they remain with equal voice when increment of salaries for MP/MLA/MLC are discussed in their respective legislative house. Not only bengal, the leakages are in maximum states, independent audit or inspection through lokpal should be made. Recent step by centre for biometric attendance of job card holder is a welcome step.
Rohit

MGNREGA is a way of bribing the citizens who have no voice but the power to vote. Bengal being one of the notorious political states among others needs no explanation behind such a move by the centre. If the centre does equally with other states, definitely this bribe will be a wage in the real sense. I congratulate the Whispers to be a voice of the voiceless. In a democratic setup like ours, an unbiased media role is highest in framing the society right.
Ms Gupta
Again induction of non-IAS officer for Member (PPP) in NHAI?
Such publication can serve the purpose only when Govt takes note of it and makes an independent enquiry from CVC & fix the responsibilities irrespective of how senior or powerful the culprits are otherwise the publication will remain just publication only.
Reena Chahal

The existing political scenario proves beyond doubt that India the so called largest democracy is no longer a democracy left, rather India is being ruled by elite class majority of them have criminal background, all elites elected by voters are a saleable product, there is no way that they are answerable to the voters. Height is laws are being made for foolish voters or the general public which suit their politics, welfare of voters is missing, looters are looting this country and making it bankrupt with their self interest corruptive policies. Where India is heading, God only knows.
Harish Kumar