Whispers Forum

The peoples' assessment of the RTI Act is that it is collapsing under its own weight. The offices of Information commissions at the centre and States are considered a burden on the State exchequer. The political dispensations have started tinkering with the service conditions of central and States information commissioners in matters of age of appointment, retirement/ premature retirement, salary structures, dismissals etc. Lateral appointment of commissioners into RTI mainstream, will damage the transparency movement. Principle of seniority is not followed. Any officer, who does not fall in line, can be shunted out as a contractual employee. The pliable commissioners continue with all privileges.The Satark Nagrik Sangathan, a citizens' group working to promote transparency and accountability, reporting on the performance of the 29 Information Commissions set up under RTI Act across the country, has exposed dismal state of affairs of most commissions. While the State Information Commissions of Tripura and Jharkhand have been lying defunct, others are functioning with truncated strengths. Large backlog of pending cases. No wonder, about 3.14 lakh applications are reportedly pending in various information commissions. Added to this is the tendency on part of several commissions to return about 50% of the complaints without any speaking orders. It is an open secret that orders of CIC and SICs are not being implemented by government organisations. The tardy pace of disposal of applications by the commissioners has harmed the RTI movement irrevocably that was launched with massive fanfare in 2005. There is no security for RTI applicants who are under threats from those who are adversely impacted. The downfall of RTI Act 2005 started when political parties were exempted from sharing information. The office of Registrar General of SC was however, brought under the purview of RTI Act 2005.Exemption of SC judiciary was justified. The practice of taking prior consent of the third party(affected party) for sharing his/her information with the applicant, was regressive. The investigative agencies and Armed forces were exempted due to national security concerns. Reluctance to impose penalty on PIOs for non-compliance, continues unpunished with impunity. There is no system to regularly monitor the performance of information commissions across the country with the objective of strengthening the RTI regime. Majority of Commissioners are retired bureaucrats with 10% women. Perhaps, appointing more and more women as heads of CIC and SICs, would help in streamlining the system. Whispersinthecorridors's ‘ Date with RTI’,no doubt, is performing commendable job by increasing public awareness through daily reporting of RTI cases .
A K Saxena (a former civil servant)
Hearty congratulations on setting a new record. Hope to hit 500crore soon.
Dr Sushil Trivedi

The Information Commission is poorly handling the appeals and not entertaining them. The epidemic was indeed catastrophic and a little laxity should have been permitted rather than going by strict standards. The Commission is rarely seen as strict when it comes to the question of finding delay and imposing penalty. The facts should be examined on merits and not on technicalities. Will the information commission change the ways in the New Year?
Sukhvir Singh
Go whispers go... go.. go! You are the lone runner. Reach 500crore! Hit fast.
B P Pandey IAS (Retd)

With Sino American relations at its lowest ebb or point in decades, fears are mounting that tensions, especially over Taiwan, could erupt into violent conflict, it can be now, may be soon or any moment when boiling point is high. The recent events especially on the Ukraine front, where both Sino Russians united in invisible form, show that the United States and China spiral into “strategic competition" caused by "structural dynamics, which continue to drive the two countries towards an incredibly dangerous rivalry." A rising power has "ended up at war with the established power" in 12 to 16 cases over the past century-and the USA-China rivalry do not seem to meet the conditions of joining the minority. "For now", it can be concluded "the sino-American cold war is certainly growing colder, but a hot war over Taiwan may well be coming”. Any time this fire or volcano can erupt, more likely when China tries to forcibly lay claim on Taiwan. Wish this happens sooner than later, it's in India's interests that a weak China emerged after this volcanic event between Sino-America.
Harish Kumar

The news of the passing away of revered Heera Ba the mother of Prime Minister Modi was quite upsetting. A day earlier it was reported that she was recovering and her condition was stable. To me the images of these two mother and son whenever he went to meet her in Ahmedabad were so beautiful. Touching her feet and putting her hand on his head by way of blessing, she putting something in his mouth to eat and he reciprocating, she giving him some money as all elders do to the children brought back sentimental memories for me. All mothers do the same when children have left the house to lead their own lives, the men work for the girls after marriage .When they go home to meet their mother they get the similar type of treatment. These cherished images of love between mother and son will no longer be seen. May God give eternal peace to this wonderful mother. I will of course miss those beautiful images.
Aarti Khosla

There were speculations that Congress was trying to bring Ghulam Nabi Azad back into the party fold. However, Azad had made scathing attacks on Rahul Gandhi while resigning. He even called Rahul immature. The Gandhi family was very upset with Azad for the attacks on Rahul, but despite the displeasure, there are reports that party leaders are making every possible effort to bring Azad back home. It is really surprising that a leader who made such serious allegations against Rahul could return to the party. But now Azad himself has laid all speculations to rest and said he would not return to Congress.
Arshad Khan

I fully agree with the views expressed by A K Agnihotri regarding more duty while you bring back to India the Foreign Exchange. Suggest dispensation that rules be amended so that there no duty is charged, instead it should be accepted at the selling rate of that day. This will encourage more foreign exchange legally. I have a feeling due to loss of duty element many returnees may be selling illegally. Even if the sale and purchase are liberal, too much of GST taxes are charged when you buy them legally while going abroad. Of course, dispensation has to issue clear guidelines or notification with strictures of punishment if buying or selling illegally, leaving it to the system's judgment.
Harish Kumar

Not a very rational structuring. Pay less duty when you buy and remit foreign exchange. Pay higher duty when you are gifted and the country is saved foreign exchange. Value of Gift should be capped to prevent misuse rather than punishing genuine buyers.
A K Agnihotri
Electorates of Karnataka are very wise and mature
Let us not get carried away by some feedbacks received regarding Karnataka elections. The electorates of Karnataka are very wise and mature and they know whom to elect or not to elect based upon the performances and manifesto of the different parties in the fray. I can say this because I am a native Bangalorean. So let us be patient and wait for the counting day to have the correct picture instead of merely speculating about an election about five months away.
K Srinivasa Rao

We must answer Chinese aggression at least by boycotting Chinese goods if not militarily. I wonder how markets are flooded with Chinese goods from kites to Diwali lights come any festival and one will find shops and even wayside vendors selling that festival needs 'made in China. Xmas and New Year are upon us looking for Xmas trees Santa Claus decorations for Xmas trees or New Year cards or lighting China supplies all. Come Holi and you will find colours and pichkaris made in China even the murtis of all our Gods and Goddesses made in China are available in some shops. If you want to buy winter clothing go to any weekly bazaar or even elite malls you will not be surprised to find something made in China. The other day a friend gifted me a woolen cap nicely packed and in an attractive bag. I opened it and found a label marked made in China. No question of my wearing it. I am surprised. How is all such stuff getting into the Indian market? I do not think it comes within the items of recognised trade between the two countries. Something should be done to stop it.
Aarti Khosla