Whispers Forum

DEBATE (1) Corruption
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
Corruption is a Mindset which needs the fertile land of inadequate system where the inadequacy is measured in terms of the gap between the aspirations and the opportunities or supply and legitimate demand. Therefore, for the eradication of corruption we need, short-term as well as long-term measures covering our education system, social system, and governance including the judiciary. In most of the schools we neither have any teaching for ethics and moral values neither we have any system of integration of the teaching with the social services and productive engagement.
A system having focus on penalty and not on proper education and training for the reorientation of the young Mind is not likely to have any long lasting impact. Moreover, a system of penalty having its focus on financial penalty is bound to encourage corruption. Can anyone think of imposing financial penalty in a game of football for foul play instead of showing yellow card or red card? If not, then why for a traffic violation we do not have a system of yellow card or red card instead of a system of financial penalty.
For a long and lasting effect, while continuous striving for reducing the gap between the aspirations of the nation and the opportunities available to the nation is necessary, we have to ensure that no case of corruption is left unaddressed. The authorities on the top in every walk of society has to be proactive and any attempt to behave like an ostrich is going to be counterproductive.
The present Modi Government has shown sensitivity in discouraging corruption, but the government has to come out with a blue print covering all other aspects referred above. It remains a fact that the middle and lower level machinery, everywhere, is not sensitive to anti-corruption measures. Visible corruptions at Railway Stations, Hospitals, Police Stations, Traffic Junctions, etc. have most devastating effect on the psyche of the young mind.
A.K. Verma, EX-ISS
[Ex-Director- Professor & HOD(Stat), AIIH&PH]
DEBATE (2) Corruption
Eradication of corruption from our system is impossible unless (i) execution is improved (ii) accountability is established (iii) responsibility for each Government servant is fixed and defined (iv) Colonial legacy in the system is erased (v) legality must have an edge over illegality. (vi) the rules framed are clearly defined and there should be no exceptions to the rule. These are cancers of our system. Nation building is a collective responsibility and every citizen has to do his bit.
Harish Kumar
Don’t meddle with surplus land with military/ armed forces
Aropos views on surplus land with military/ armed forces, the suggestion is dangerous and short sighted. The government has been toying with the idea of pawning family jewels - PSU, land with railways, surplus funds with milk rich organisations, etc. To use it for social sector schemes is a bottomless pit. No extent of land will suffice. Land is a limited resource, and cannot be expanded. Today if you take away the surplus land, what will you do tomorrow? The trouble with politicians, government and other policy makers is two fold - one wants immediate / short term gains & benefits, and the other bends backward to get it done. It would be a pity to trim the resources of the armed forces. Leave them alone and keep them at arms distance. Don’t meddle with such ideas. You will leave nothing for the future or future generations.
S Srinivasan
NITI AYOG'S suggestion to privatize Hospitals will br disastrous
NITI AYOG'S suggestion to privatize the Hospitals run by Railways or Armed Forces will be disastrous. We have seen the functioning of Private Hospital all over the Country. They are basically commercial venture-only motive is to make money.Recent reports of over charging for Stents etc by private Hospital is a testimony to this fact. Railway and Armed Forces Hospitals are doing great job in difficult conditions. Hope Central Government does not succumb to this suggestion of NITI AYOG.
S Gopal

Information about the Service Associations/Federations recognized by CBEC and their renewal was sought. With regard to the delay in furnishing the reply, the respondnet informed that consequent upon the announcement of GST and related development concerning restructuring of the department, it was not feasible to furnish the information within the specific time period and apologized for the delay. The CIC observed that a voluntary disclosure of all the information that ought to be displayed in the public domain should be the rule and members of the public who having to seek information should be an exception. The CIC directed that all information relating to the registration of Service Associations, Federations/their Service Rules etc. should be placed in the public domain to facilitate dissemination of information to the public at large.
Comments
The suo moto disclosure of all the information in compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005 should be made to ensure transparency, objectivity and accountability in the functioning of the Public Authority.
Citation:: :Shri Arvind Kumar Agarwal v. Central Board of Excise and Customs in Appeal No.:-CIC/CBECE/A/2017/133860-BJ; Date of Decision: 17.08.2017
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 - Right to Information Act 2005- RTI Foundation of India

DEBATE (1) Corruption
Who said Modiji is alone in doing away with the malady of corruption ? He has the support of the entire nation ! Who wants corruption to thrive ? The doubters are the ones who have enjoyed patronage in the old 'system' and are irked with the new initiatives. Oh God, Save My Country (from these dalals) !
Kamal
“ Un-Constitutional, Injudicious, Regressive ”
Recent Media reports opposing creation of National Judicial Service (NJC ) by 9 high courts ( AP,Bombay, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, MP, Patna, Punjab &Haryana) make disturbing reading.While, Sikkim,Tripura Jharkhand ,Rajasthan are still to firm-up their stands,States like Kerala, Chhatisgarh, Allahabad,Manipur, HP, Meghalay, Orissa oppose Centre’s proposal.
Relying on provisions in the Constitution buttressed by advice/ recommendations of the Law Commission, the Supreme Court and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on law and justice, the ruling dispensation wrote to all States for seeking their views. It is not competent to create a new Service unilaterally.
As per proposed scheme of things ,the Centre will have no say in the recruitment and posting process. Top judiciary to have full authority in selection and appointment of judicial officers. No executive interference. The merit order list to be prepared based on cut-offs and reservation policy as decided by top judiciary.
The States have their own judicial services; administrative control vesting with High courts. Unless the High courts and States agree to creation of NJS , the Centre cannot decide. Recruitments are presently made either by High courts or State PSCs. Attracting best talent becomes the casualty. Roles of some State PSCs have been dubious. Charges of nepotism, favouritism, flying thick and fast. Posts on sale by auction. Chairperson of UP-PSC is facing the heat for selecting candidates belonging to a particular community. All under former ruling dispensation.
Consider loop holes in the existing process of selection . No consistency, no uniformity in the conduct of exams by different States. Different syllabii and different difficulty levels of Question papers set by different examiners. And worse, different norms of valuation. Recruitments are presently made either by High courts or State PSCs. Attracting best talent becomes the casualty.
It is strange that the unethical practices
Take Subordinate Judiciary. Position far from hunky dory. Pathetic
Charges of corruption, favouritism and arbitrariness abound. Zero accountability .
Poor qualities of judgements. Frequent adjournments on frivolous grounds cause undue harassments to litigants. Unholy nexus between the prosecution and the defence lawyers with blessings of willing judges.
Tareekh pe tareekh; tareekh pe tareekh, a bollywood jumla, is a ground reality.
The judiciary habitually complains of large backlog of vacancies of sub-judges when questioned by higher courts about massive pendency of cases numbering about 3 crores.
Around 5,000 posts of sub-judges are reportedly lying vacant.Intake is low and quality poor.
This is admitted privately by members of the Bar.
The Supreme court is urged to put its foot down and give due consideration to ensure transparency in making fool-proof selection of meritorious judges to subordinate judiciary.
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)
A number of middle level CSS officers are waiting since long for promotion. The Chanakya Niti of the Senior Bureaucrats are responsible for this. They want some of them to commit suicide and then get blamed and face FIR/Arrest for their deaths. Promotion of all services takes smoothly and in a time bound manner. Why only the promotion of CSS officers get delayed.
Shri Prakash
Will NITI Ayog ....defence hospitals published 18th August has been credited to me but it has been sent by somebody else. Kindly carry out correction.
M L Gupta

DEBATE (1) Corruption
Modi alone can’t do it
The fight against corruption is not an individual driven fight but more of a systems driven fight. No Modi, Gandhi, Nehru- no individual can eliminate corruption single handedly. The world has seen many such evangelists earlier. These guys have not only failed but also created some stupid systems which ultimately created more corruption. Modi can only bring in tough laws and influence people to abide by them by his personal charm.
Sudhir Saxena
DEBATE (2) Corruption
Not a single man’s task
It is foolish to believe that any one person can eliminate corruption, let alone Modi.
Rajesh Shrivastava
RTI useless if records destroyed
Records. If a Public Information Officer responds to an applicant w.r.t to an RTI application that the records/files have been destroyed based on the Record Retention Schedule, then nothing can happen.
Anurag Srivastava

DEBATE (1) Corruption slogan
Corruption is a dirty word but it is a vote catcher. Every political party promises to eliminate corruption if it is voted to power and it will give a clean administration/government. But how do the parties garner votes They need money and tons of money to contest elections in a big democracy like India. Everyone knows votes are not won on the strength of a party's mission or objectives, but on the promises it makes to the voters and the bribes it offers in various questionable practices like distributing liquor, sarees, bicycles or even wads of currency notes and sometimes by using pressure tactics for which they need muscle men who have to be paid handsomely. Parties collect money not from the poor but from the business community and more from the big companies who pay them huge sums of money which are not declared by any party nor any account is rendered. As long as there is no state funding of the elections, corruption will remain. Even after winning elections whether the party is in power or in opposition, it needs money for its various agenda items, like taking out rallies on some pretext or the other and for arranging public shows of welcome when big leaders visit any city or town. Even inside the Parliament or in the Assemblies, sometimes prties have to buy the support of some parties in the opposition in order to get certain bills or resolutions passed.
Even petty hawkers, vendors, vegetable sellers, fruit sellers are known to be short-weighing their stuff and over charging the gullible buyers, on some pretext or the other. Is it not corruption. The weighing scales are not callibratd so that the cheating goes on and on. Traders do not issue cash memos in order to avoid paying taxes. Double set of accounts is a common practice in the business world. The officers and staff of the various govt. departments who are responsible for enforcement of laws, and rules/regulations are known to be having their weekly bribes or daily collection from haat-baazars. Big business houses regularly bribe the tax collectors to keep them on their right side.
Corruption has taken very deep roots and most citizens are prepared to pay the bribe to get the work done fast or to save themselves when they break rules. It is impossible to eliminate corruption from any society. Advanced world economies and even communist countries are suffering from the bane of corruption. Someone said, " Corruption is the oil which keeps the wheels of government moving."
S C Agrawal
D G Police (Retd.)
DEBATE (2) Corruption
Atleast PM Modi has called for eradication of corruption.He has a will and let’s see what is in the store.
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V K Panigrahi
VIP culture can be controlled ?
VIP culture can be controlled only if the Bureaucracy particularly IAS officers and Police officials join hands together and refuse to succumb to Politicians pressures.
S Gopal
Applying 360 degree for empanelment is unfair
The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Personnel and Public grievances have rightly pointed out that applying 360 degree for empanelment of officers for joint secretary level is unfair and can be challenged legally since it is not backed by any statue and is purely on the basis of executive instructions.Moreover the system is opaque and lacks objectivity.How can you expect a junior to give a fair assessment about the officer if at some point of time he/she has been reprimanded or disciplined by the senior.Similiarly a senior cannot give fair and objective assessment if the officer assessed is not the one adept at psycophancy.To keep the names of the persons from whom opinion is sought secret from the officer who is under consideration for empannelment is absolutely wrong.This is no administrative reform.No wonder since the application of this doctrine many well deserving officers have missed the bus and those not so good are being put on the panel.I do not know which wise man advised for this 360 degree -an idea introduced first in Germany during World War II for military and given up and later introduced in America too and discarded for the same reason of absence of objectivity.This needs to be dropped by GOI also and all those who have been rejected for empannelment mainly because of 360 degree be given justice.
Aarti Khosla

DEBATE (1) Corruption
Modi can definetely do it but he has to start from the top political leaders.Corruption is there at the highest level.
G S Mathur (DGP Retd)
DEBATE (2) Corruprtion
Modi can never do this. This is only a “Chunavi Jumla”.
Mridula Agrawal
Will NITI AYOG ever recommend privatization Defence Sector hospitals ?
Has the NITI AYOG got the guts to recommend the privatization of the hospitals which exists in the Defence Sector of the country? NITI Ayog recommends the privatization of railway hospitals on commercial grounds. What will happen if a Railway Accident takes place. The private hospitals (which come into being as a result of privatization of District and Railways hospitals) will ask money from the injured before picking him/her up. Medicine is a noble profession and we should not try to commercialize it. The private hospitals do not allow the patients to recuperate in their hospitals. Immediately, after the operation they pressurize their patients to leave the hospital as they hanker for new patients, whom they can fleece. It is seen that in most of the cases where the patients are made to leave the hospital in a hush and when he or she goes back to residence, they catch infection. They have no option but to rely back on the same hospital and they are again fleeced. Sometimes the infection becomes so acute that the patients dies. NITI AYOG during the last three years of its existence has done nothing and is trying to make such vague recommendations. After getting frustrated by the current state of Affairs, Shri Arvind Panigrahiya quit as the Vice Chairman of NITI Ayog. Not getting his leave extended is a 'bahana'
B B Srivastava

DEBATE (1)
It is next impossible in this country. In our DNA corruption is there. Modi can only control the rate of corruption.
G K Gandhi
AAR Mumbai
Authority for advance ruling is an important institution for settling income tax issues in advance. this institution is particularly for the benefit of non resident tax payers who want their tax issues to be settled in advance before undertaking business activity in India. but NCR and Mumbai bench of AAR is non functional since last more than a year despite posting of member in both the benches. it is not understood why bench is not functional. tax payers are suffering for want of advance ruling and the image of the country to non resident taxpayers is getting spoiled. will concerned authorities look into it.
Pavan Ved
Commissioner of Income-Tax (Retd.)
“ Utilisation of Military land “
Indian army has 39 military farms, housing some 25,000 cattle, occupying 20,000 acres of land across the country. British legacy.Cows milk was utilised by British officers and their orderlies. No longer popular with Indian army officers when shelf-stable, hygienically manufactured canned milk is readily available.
Employing about 20 officers and 2,000 civilians, the annual cost of maintenance of infrastructure of military farms is reported to be Rs 300 crores.Not economically viable.
It is time to consider proper utilisation of land in public interest.
Let the Army auction the cattle and valuable land. This will bring handsome revenue to the government that could be meaningfully utilised to make India’s Armed forces battle ready.
The Gau rakshak goons, one trusts, keep their hands off.
Besides military farms , there are large patches of vacant land owned by the Army spread all over the country. One is not sure whether these serve any purpose for the army.
If not in use, these could be meaningfully utilized by the central government for implementing social sector schemes.
Acquisition should, no doubt, be subject to approval of the Armed forces and without jeopardising national security.
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)

The appellant sought particulars of the officials entrusted with the duty to publish and disseminate the rules on disciplinary action and human resource policy manual; the date(s) on which the above said rules and policy manual were published and the administrative reason for not disseminating these rules on the website of IIM, Ahmedabad. The PIO stated that the IIM, Ahmedabad was a single location building and the HR department was accessible to all the employees. All such type of rules were available with the HR department and was accessible to all the employees on demand. He added that the institute followed an informal way of working and since all rules and policy/s related to the employees were easily accessible to them at HR department, there was no need to put these documents on department’s website. Keeping in view the objective of bringing about transparency and accountability, the CIC directed the CPIO to put the rules on disciplinary action and human resource policy manual on the department’s website u/s 4 of the RTI Act, 2005.
Comments
It is strange to note that the leading management institute does not put human resource policy in public domain. This CIC order would propel all the institutes to put their disciplinary rules and policies on its website.
Citation:: : Shri Ketan Bhatt v. IIM, Ahmedabad in Appeal No. CIC/CC/A/2015/002317/MP, Date of Decision: August 10, 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 - Right to Information Act 2005- RTI Foundation of India

DEBATE (1) Corruption
If Modi is so serious about eradication of corruption then should constitute Lok Pal and direct the state government’s to appoint Lokayukta compulsorily. Corruption can be eradicated only if the government runs by rules.
L S Hardenia
DEBTE (2) Corruption
Corruption can not be eradicated in this country. Even one thousand Modi’s can not eradicate corruption. Presently the maximum corruption is in BJP ruled states.
Kuldip Dhawan
War or Peace ?
“Military option is the fundamental guarantor of sovereignty”- spoke Xi Jinping, the mighty Chinese President. He may not be the first or only such an advocate of military option. The only thing is he is the first one in the world to prove Gautam Buddha wrong both in theory and practice. The success of the Chinese military operation in Tibet proves him right. Tibet was lost to the Chinese communist military dictatorship by the Tibetans who believed in peace as the highest ideal and goal as preached by the Great Buddha. Buddhism spread to a major part of the world on the strength of its commitment to peace and not military power. India has suffered loss of her sovereignty for more than 2500 years because of following the policy of non-violence and zero military option. Historiographers will need to carry out an honest evaluation of the consequences of pursuing hyper non-violence as mandated in the Ashokan rock inscriptions. India is not known to regain the Ashokan state power to govern after him. With a few flashes of glory interspersed in between, it has been a history of decline and suffering. The virtue, efficacy and power of peace was re-established by Mahatma Gandhi as a weapon to carry on the freedom movement. Whether it would have been a success against a China of Xi Jinping is another question. But no one should entertain any doubt about the need to make the country militarily strong to face any challenge from barbaric aggressors of the past or military dictatorships of the modern times. A country needs to guard its land, sea and air borders effectively to deter any evil intentions of an aggressor like China. India has pursued the policy of Panchsheel after Independence. It is time to review it now. The youth must be imparted military training for 5 years before they pass out senior secondary school. China lost more than India in 1962- communism was discredited globally as a result. In India, the left movement suffered grave stress which continues to haunt it even today.
M L Gupta

One hopes that India has some written assurances over and above and beyond the 29 June 2017 Press Statement of the Bhutan Foreign Affairs Ministry, to serve as the basis for the belief that Doka La or Doklam is Bhutanese territory and that Bhutan desires India to defend it under the India Bhutan Treaty of Friendship ratified on 02 March 2007.
The Indian Army derives legality for deployment in Doklam under Article 2 of the abovementioned treaty which states "Neither Government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other."
Any justification for Indian Troop movements necessarily predicates the establishment of, or at the very least, an unequivocal and categorical assertation from Bhutan that Doklam is Bhutanese territory.
The Bhutanese Foreign Ministry has avoided such a categorical public statement in the Press Statement of 29 June 2017 reproduced above, or in its statement made yesterday to the news agency ANI wherein it said, "Our position on the border issue of Doklam is very clear: Please refer to our statement which has been published on the website of Bhutan Foreign Ministry on June 29, 2017." [quoted in The Times of India, Friday August 11, 2017, New Delhi Capital Edition, Page 17.]
Whether this omission has taken place by oversight or by design, India must ask Bhutan to rectify this error and set the record straight in the public domain.
It just does not make sense to even contemplate a war, any war, however limited, on issues lacking clarity which rests on a Third Party which has allowed obfuscation to continue for almost 2 months even as China is alleging that it has contrary assurances from the same third party, viz Bhutan.
Namit Verma
Online portal for consumer complaints
There is an online portal of the Department of Consumer Affairs wherein one can load his grievance as a consumer.
B B Srivastava
Is NIC blocking websites ?
Is the NIC blocking all internet websites on all computers in all Ministries of Government of India. Is it part of a conscious policy ?
Vijay Kumar
Heartiest congratulations
Heartiest congratulations Archana. All the best for the new assignment.
R B S Rawat

Stalking case of a top bureaucrat’s daughter by the wayward son of BJP chief of Haryana, and his accomplice ,is appalling. Media reports that BJP chief’s nephew is also involved in yet another case of heinous crime of sexual misconduct. A family trait.
The stalkers were first arrested, then let off on bail by the Police. Strangely, the non-bailable charge of stalking initially included in FIR, was later deleted. Being law graduates, the culprits were familiar with gravity of the offence and accordingly activated their political contacts. Now in police custody, they have admitted to having committed the crime. The non-bailable charge of attempting to abduct under section 365 of the IPC and section 511 relating to attempt to commit an offence punishable with life or other imprisonment, has been pressed against the duo.
Let the law take its course.
The worrisome feature is, if this is the fate of a top bureaucrat’s daughter, how safe would be those poor, helpless girls with no clout and who are less fortunately circumstanced?
The police machinery is same everywhere. Corrupt, pliable, ever ready to oblige the political class. In the present, ends of justice would be met if a judicial inquiry is ordered into the conduct of Police-politicians nexus. Can’t expect anything from politicians. They consider themselves above the law.
The aggrieved girl deserves appreciation for going public in exposing the culprits. The Media must be congratulated for performing a yeoman service for fighting against VVIP culture of the political class.
A K Saxena (A retd civil servant)
Include in Black money !
Money spent out of exchequer for misuse of office, perks and facilities by the Bureaucrats, Defence Personnel and Ministers should also form a part of the black money.
Anurag Srivastava
Proper handling over of records
In how many government departments does a proper handling over of records take place? If the Information Commission keeps on imposing fine for missing records, there would not be any number of officers who would be left untouched from penalty.
Sumeet Sarkar

Raghu don't go with the rumour. Such an incident had never happened. The All India Service Officers and Group 'A' can never match the CSS officers in the matter of noting and drafting. The CSS officers go to court because of violation of the Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution of India. The 'Bada Babus' when they find they have lost in the CAT, they tell the Department to file a case on the High Court. Here also when the Department looses, they suggest filing of case in Supreme Court. The CSS officers never misuse office perks & facilities and milch the PSUs. The 'Bada Babus' are known for it. I have a lot of material received through the RTI Act and I propose to jam the governance wheel in the country only on account of misuse of office perks & facilities by the 'Bada Babus'.
B B Srivastava
Where to complaint against private hospitals fleecing patients ?
Can anybody help me out in letting me know which is the fora for making complaints against private hospitals fleecing patients. Courts are time consuming and costly. Cannot the Ministry of Health &FW do something about it or amend the Clinical Establishment Act to curb this loot. Or is there a nexus and nobody wants to burn his fingers.
K.S.Palachandran