Whispers Forum

It creates a lot of difficulty flying international aircrafts or staying in hotels abroad because of a lack of understanding of vegetarian food habits of a vast majority of Indians who do not consume meat, fish or egg but live on grains, vegetables and fruits. How did vegetarian food habits develop as the human beings had started as a meat eating species? True, and perhaps, all Indians too were like others. To solve this conundrum it needs to have a gentle idea about Indian thought. India had become a knowledgeable society much before others began to join. Science, maths and statistics were applied to unravel the mysteries of the world and promote a healthy lifestyle.
M L Gupta

The way the debt of the country and state governments is increasing is very worrying. According to a report, the amount of debt is becoming equal to the country's GDP. Statistics show that the loan amount of Rs 200 lakh crore has currently increased to Rs 205 lakh crore in March 2023. If the Indian government continues to borrow at this pace, then there is no denying that the country will have 100 percent debt of GDP. It is well known that 'debt', which was associated with compulsion in ancient times, seems to be gaining its influence as a common practice in the modern era.
Ankita Malviya

An online RTI application was filed seeking certain information from the CPIO, CBDT, New Delhi who transferred the RTI Application to the CPIO, Principal CCIT New Delhi who in turn transferred the application to the CPIO, PCIT New Delhi to send the information directly to the Complainant. The Complainant filed a complaint with the CIC on the ground of non-receipt of proper reply from the CPIO except mere intimation of transfer of RTI Application. The respondent submitted that inadvertently, the then Nodal Officer (RTI) /CPIO in office of the Pr. CCIT could not transfer the RTI application to the concerned CPIO Income Tax Officer, Ward 59(8), D-Block, Vikash Bhawan, I.P. Estate, New Delhi. The respondent expressed their regret and submitted that this type of mistake will not occur in future. The CIC observed that such casual conduct of the CPIOs' tantamount to disregard for the proceedings of the Commission and also cause unwarranted obstruction to the Complainant's right to information which is in grave violation to the provisions of RTI Act. The CIC issued show cause notice to the CPIO but after hearing the submissions, held that there is no malafide or deliberate omission on the part of the Respondent and penalty proceedings were dropped.
Comment
While transferring an application filed under the RTI Act under section 6(3), a CPIO must exercise due caution to identify who is the concerned CPIO. It would save time and avoid unnecessary delay in providing the information.
Citation: Anurag Agarwal v. Income Tax Department, Complaint No. CIC/CBODT/C/2022/651966; Date of Decision: 29.12.2023
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

After the caste census and economic survey, the Bihar government has decided to provide a grant of Rs 2 lakh each to 94 lakh poor families over 5 years to make them financially strong. This step by the government deserves praise, because the monthly income of these families is less than six thousand. This step of the government has awakened a ray of hope among the poor families. This will stop the problem of migration and the youth will be able to start their own business in the village itself. The government must ensure that the right person gets the benefits of this scheme. This scheme will prove effective in poverty alleviation.
Raj Ahirwar

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has accused political conspiracy on the latest summons sent by ED for questioning. He said ED sent him four summons but all of them are illegal. These notices have been sent as part of a political conspiracy. He said that ED has sent a notice asking him to appear for questioning on any day of January 18 or 19. Kejriwal is not afraid of getting arrested because he knows if ED wants to arrest then they will arrest anyway, no one can stop it. It remains to be seen what will be the next move of the ED?
Aditya Kumar

Mayawati has reiterated her old stand of contesting alone in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Although she has not ruled out a post-poll alliance, for now her party will contest the LS polls alone. Mayawati says that fighting elections in alliance causes loss to BSP. Most of the parties wanted to form an alliance with BSP but this time it will contest alone. It was being said that some Congress leaders were trying till the last moment to bring BSP into the INDIA alliance. At present, after BSP's announcement of contesting the elections alone, it is once again being accused of being the 'B' team of BJP. It is being said that this has dealt a blow to the efforts of the INDIA alliance to jointly challenge the BJP in the elections in UP. Mayawati has made the contest triangular by announcing that she will contest the elections alone. Will the BJP benefit from this decision?
Neha Kumari

It is not uncommon to see that the orders of the Information Commission - both State and Centre - are not implemented. The appellant is left to run from pillar to post to get the order implemented. The CIC or SIC seem to care very little and their approach leaves much to be desired. Most have the retired bureaucrats at the helm of the affairs and hence, their approach is understandable. The Information Commission hardly imposes a penalty even when they categorically mention in their order that the PIO had not provided information timely. The Information Commission must be made independent if the RTI Act has to survive and flourish.
Bhoomi Hatyar

In response to an application seeking certain information, the RTI applicant was provided opportunity to attend the personal hearing on two occasions to make the CPIO / FAA to understand his query, however, the applicant chose not to attend the same on any of the occasions. The Respondent stated that the relevant information has been already furnished to the Appellant from their official record. He stated that the Appellant was working as a JSO in MoSPI and he has been absconding since April 2023 and has failed to join office despite various communications and reminder letter sent to him in this regard. He offered inspection of record to the Appellant. The CIC directed the PIO to provide an opportunity to the Appellant or his authorised representative, to inspect available and relevant records as sought in the instant RTI Application, on a mutually decided date and time duly intimated to the Appellant telephonically and/or in writing.
Comments
The PIO should not use “an offer of inspection of documents” as a tool to deny information. If the RTI applicant is unable to come personally for inspection or personal hearing, an authorised representative may be deputed to for the same.
Citation: Shri Ankit Demta v. Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, Second Appeal No. CIC/MOSPI/A/2022/666229; Date of Decision: 04.01.2024
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Visakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books, RTI Right to Information - Law and Practice and PIO’s Guide to RTI. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and Third party audit. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Nyay Yatra' can give better results for Congress and other opposition parties. Rahul raises issues of public interest and speaks very vocally. He speaks very clearly on corruption and is the only opposition leader to do so. However, the electoral success of Bharat Nyay Yatra will depend on the issues raised during it. This yatra will end before the Lok Sabha elections and Rahul will get enough time for campaigning. But the electoral benefit of this yatra will depend on how clearly the issues are raised.
Pawan Kumar