Whispers Forum

If one was to tabulate deaths due to police firings in democratic countries, India would probably top the list. A major reason for this unfortunate situation is, paradoxically, the inability of the police forces of the country to equip themselves in proper gear for riot control. A video of the situation would usually show only a part of the police force clad with proper protective gear of helmets and body guards. The rest of the force including sub Inspectors, Inspectors and senior supervisory officers would be mostly wearing berets or peak caps only.
The country has paid a heavy price for this negligence. Most riots start with stone pelting by the mob and a few policemen not wearing protective gear get easily injured and at times bleeding profusely. A helmetless senior officer in the forefront is usually the first casualty, which then turns the leaderless and incensed force itself into a group bent upon revenge. Such a force very often resorts to firing, whereas a lathi charge directed by a leadership wearing protective gear and therefore in control would have sufficed (this is not to say that all police firings are unjustified). On TV one can see that the anti riot police of our neighbors such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Srilanka and even Pakistan have turned out in better gear. At play here is a curious Indian negligence in not being properly equipped for the job in hand. Electricians, plumbers etc. will turn up for repair work and ask you for pliers, screw drivers, bulbs for testing etc. The same goes for the reluctance to put on seat belts or wear helmets during driving. Also at work here is a caste consciousness – the officers, i.e. Inspectors and above probably consider it somewhat below dignity to don helmets and body guards. They subconsciously feel that their prestige in the eyes of the public will go down. Whenever faced with law and order situations during my career, I made it a point to myself to wear a helmet and bodyguard. This ensured that those down the line followed suit. Non use of tear gas as a first resort of riot control is also a fallout of our carelessness in being properly equipped. This leads to excessive use of armed force resulting in avoidable casualties of the public. It is not that the force does not have adequate tear gas ammunition, only it is not quickly available on the spot. Senior police officers should ensure that every police station has its own tear gas squad and is not dependent on the control room for its availability in the first instance.
The senior police leadership, both in the PHQs and in the field, bears a heavy and urgent responsibility in ensuring a properly clad force.
A R Pawar, former DGP, MP
What a suggestion of Kejriwal
Those responding to Kejriwal's idiotic suggestion countered by suggesting why not gods of other religions included Allah little knowing that Islam categorically prohibits any visible form of Allah.
What kind of people are at the helm of affairs?
B K Saha Former Chief Secretary MP

Pallav, what makes you say that WICD has no relevance. In fact it has grown by leaps and bounds in the last ten years or more. I eagerly await each and every minute for their update. So please don't say it for a huff or for someone's influence. WICD is superb and always punctual. Go ahead sir.
Ramesh
Voting in elections
At present, voters physically cast their votes. Employees while on election duty also cast their votes at the station of duty. Armed forces personnel and CAPF exercise their voting rights through postal ballot. Hence, almost all citizens who are voters can cast their votes in the election. However, there are large number of civil voters, say in thousands and lacs, who are away from their native places due to jobs etc. in different parts of the country, (in particular labourers and IT sector employees) are unable to vote as they can neither come physically to their native places nor facility of casting their votes through ballot papers is extended to them. Hence, indirectly, they are denied this voting right. ECI should take note of this discrimination and find out solution to this problem with the help of latest communication technology.
Raj Kumar Thakur

Which is the best service in terms of promotions? Surprisingly, it is not the IAS. It is the CSS. The officers who join the CSS are at the rock bottom of the list in the Civil Services Exam (now intake has been discontinued), they join as Class II officers but go on to become Additional Secretaries to the Government of India, which even IAS officers can only dream of. They wield enormous influence because they man the offices of Ministers right from their days as Section Officers (Assistant PS to Ministers) and are an extremely united lot. Since they manage all the cadre controlling authorities in the Ministries, they are most powerful and decide on the promotions of all services.
Vijay Kumar

Committee observers feel that WICD has lost its credibility and acts as a part of propaganda machinery.
Pallav
“INC's Organisational Elections"
After the election of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress President, it will be naive to expect any change in the laidback functioning of the Congress Party. The party has merely moved a step closer to its liquidation. Success of democracy depends on effective political opposition, sadly, missing in India. Tharoor would have been the ideal choice due to high intellectual worth. The dynastic hold of the Supremo will continue. Sonia Gandhi will continue to do back-seat driving even in the new scenario. She will still have the final say in all decision makings. Kharge is no match for the formidable Shashi Tharoor, who is alleging that elections were rigged. Right or wrong, one does not know. But, surely, Tharoor is intellectually superior to any other leader in the present political firmament.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Congratulations ma'am on your new assignment. Hope you will further raise the image of NHAI by making it the most efficient organization, who always proved in building nation.
Kumar
Late T N Seshan, Ex-Cab Sec & CEC -- a tribute
Late T N Sheshan, former Cabinet Secretary and later CEC, known for his no-nonsense approach, was a terror both to corrupt politicians and laidback bureaucrats. I had the privilege to meet him one-on-one on three occasions. I was lucky to escape his tongue-lashing. As CEC, he cracked the whip on money and muscle power and proved a nemesis for political parties. Quite abrasive and rude to the core. Best known for his electoral reforms. Known for fixing impossible targets, he expected quick results from subordinates.. In a lighter vein, today's orders were to be executed yesterday. Former TN CM Jayalalitha labelled him as : "Embodiment of Arrogance". In 1990, while I was serving in UPSC, a nerve-racking rumour got viral. T N Seshan, was appointed as Chairperson UPSC. This generated extreme fear at all echelons of UPSC. It was like a terror attack. All Members and bureaucrats were shell- shocked. There was, however, a sigh of relief and a quiet celebration, when the matter turned out to be a hoax call.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The details of the request made by the officer seeking permission should be available in his personal file or the leave file of the office. There are many situations where the answer can be given only in terms of yes and no. For example, a query can be where the RTI Application was received in the office or not. The reply can be given in terms of yes or no. Such a query can never be termed as interrogative. It is very much in the realm of the RTI Act and if anyone has a different view, he /she has a very poor understanding of the RTI Act. Hence, a blanket statement cannot be given that all questions where answer has been sought in terms of Yes/No are not as per the provisions of the RTI Act. Such queries are permissible under the RTI Act
Sudhanshu Trivedi

The time has come for the CSS to be designated a feeder cadre of the IAS. It can be treated as a separate cadre just like state cadres. Just like state cadre SCS officers are allocated to the states after induction in the IAS, officers of the CSS can be allocated to the IAS and allocated to the Central Secretariat cadre. This would go a long way in recognising the yeoman service rendered by the CSS in nation building.
Vijay Kumar
Supremacy of IAS is over in IMF
Welcome change. Get rid of this British legacy of generalist bureaucracy.
J P Gupta

India celebrates the festival of Dussehra. It culminates in the final celebrations on Diwali. We want you both to give humanity the festival of Diwali at once. Human soul stands severely bruised by the immense loss of life and property, peace and joy, and the efficacy of soft power over hard power. Only you two great leaders of the world can restore normalcy for the sake of not only your respective peoples but entire humanity. Neither of you has won. In fact, neither of you have lost. Neither stands victorious or defeated. You have made your mark. You have shown to everyone that unnecessary interference in the affairs of sovereign nations can be fatal. Those who were targeting you and instigating you to war with each other are frustrated due to consequences they had not even imagined. War in the present time is no option before nations. It is peace alone which is the only option. It is so because peace promises the wellbeing for all of us. Our epic poet Tulsidas, in the Ramayana (Shri Ramcharitmanas), wrote as follows: Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari which translates to “assured of wellbeing and protection against the harmful”. It ensures good results for everybody. It guarantees protection against evil. As we prepare for Diwali and I am spontaneously inspired to pen this open letter to world’s 2 Great Leaders, I am sure they will receive these promptings and declare cessation of war forthwith. NATO and its allies have failed in their plans and suffered unprecedented economic losses. Hence, they should stop fuelling the war at once. They are living under threats of recession, inflation, poverty, hunger, disruption of essential supplies especially gas in the coming winter and above all a nuclear war. Hence they should contribute to the establishment of peace honourably. If they fail to do so, they will suffer heavily. President Putin and President Zelensky alone are capable of ending this war. President Putin should show greater magnanimity by taking the lead in declaring cessation of all hostilities forthwith and begin peace negotiation to reach an honourable agreement for both the nations. They are obliged to do so purely on ethics. Please listen to the voice of reason and goodwill towards you and your people and mankind. We extend Dussehra Greetings to you both and our friendly people in both your countries!
M L Gupta