Whispers Forum

The new Income Tax Bill presented by Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha recently appears to be an important part of a larger effort to streamline the country's income tax system and increase revenue along with transparency. In the last 10 years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people filing income tax returns and income tax collection. Still, a large number of rich people, many of them associated with the industry-business sector, either try not to pay income tax or pay very little. The income tax collected in many small economies of the world contributes significantly to their GDP. The complex words used in the old law have been simplified. Now 'assessment year' will be replaced by 'tax year'. The tax year will be from 1 April to 31 March. Certainly, the rights and powers of income tax officers have been increased in the new Bill. Along with this, efforts should also be made to increase the scope of income tax payers.
Anubhuti Mathur

The Maha Kumbh 2025 represents the spirit of “social cohesion” of the people of India that exists as an innate part of their culture, which goes beyond even national boundaries to profess the whole Earth as one family. The event is not for tourism in modern terms, no business opportunity but complementarity effort of the different sections of the community to lend a helping hand to make it a grand success free of any charge. This is the strength of Bharat, the real Bharat distinct from India. This was the norm till only 5 decades ago and is even now functional in the interior, Tier-II & III cities- visible on the occasion of marriage, when neighbours, friends and relatives “volunteer” to shoulder and share responsibilities and even financial help to some extent. This cooperative spirit had dwindled but not forgotten and the Maha Kumbh has proved it in the form of visitors exceeding 66 Cr. Ordinary people came forward to the aid of the government to ensure that the visitors are looked after well including their food (even free food).
M L Gupta

The allegation in the WIC Forum(Feb 22,2025) titled “Corruption by UPSC- recruited officers is alarming”, seems motivated. An impression is sought to be created that UPSC-recruited officers in various organized services are corrupt. This is a misplaced perception without being familiar with the internal functioning of UPSC. The accusation carries the risk of de-motivating lakhs of civil services aspirants who appear in the three-stage examination held by the premier body of the country, year-after-year. Baseless allegation amounts to serious indictment of a constitutional body whose practices have stood the test of time spread over several decades. The written parts of exams(Mains and Prelims) are conducted in total anonymity. The interviews ( personality tests) for written-qualified aspirants, are conducted by retired civil servants and specialists who have vast experience in scanning human traits and the best qualities of head and heart. The system is fair. Qualities like honesty and sincerity are appreciated. It will thus, be unfair, in these circumstances, to blame the UPSC for selecting corrupt civil servants. Trouble starts after training and appointments. It is difficult to predict how and when a civil servant could turn into a crook. The ground reality is that abuse and misuse of power starts soon after taking charge of the job. Authority and corruption go hand in hand. It is at this stage that civil servants are exposed to evils like pressures from corrupt politicians and seniors, kickbacks, administrative delays, speed money, lack of accountability etc. Corruption is a universal phenomenon: individual-centric and job-related. Honest civil servants, more often than not, avoid lucrative postings. Absence of effective vigilance administration also contributes to corruption. The ruling dispensation would be well-advised to expedite prosecution sanctions sought by the CVC and CBI in respect of a large number of civil servants. This would enhance good governance besides sending a message to all, down the line! No wonder, India was ranked 85 among 180 countries in the corruption perception index.
A K Saxena (former civil servant)

While hearing the second appeal, the CIC observed that in many similar cases in the recent past, it has been noticed that while replying to the RTI applications and disposing First Appeals, the designated CPIO’s and FAA’s, are only scribbling their signatures and are not giving their names, official designations and their official telephone numbers and email ID’s. An advisory was issued under section 25(5) of the RTI Act to the Additional Commissioner, Central GST & Central Excise, Jamshedpur, to take note of the aberration of RTI Act being manifested in the Respondent public authority’s office and issue a direction to their PIO’s and FAA’s to write their names, designations, official telephone numbers along with email id, while replying to the RTI Applications and First Appeals in future, in accordance with the spirit of transparency and accountability as enshrined in the RTI Act. It was also directed to sensitize their officials regarding the provisions of RTI Act by way of training workshops etc. and putting in place a coherent system of checks and balances.
Comments
Vide Office Memorandum Ref. No. 10/1/2013-IR, dated 06.10.2015, the Department of Personnel and Training, had directed that the reply should contain the name, designation, official telephone number and email ID of the CPIO. Further, the name, designation, address, official telephone number and e-mail ID of the First Appellate Authority should also be clearly mentioned in case of the first appeal. All public authorities should ensure compliance of the above instructions.
Citation: Devanshi Jay Kothari v. Office of the Assistant Commissioner of GST & CX, Division V, Jamshedpur, CIC/CCESR/A/2023/143990; Date of Decision : 20.02.2025
Dr Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is a RTI Consultant currently working with IIM Vishakhapatnam. She has co-authored the books PIO’s Guide to RTI and Right to Information – Law and Practice. Her weekly article is being published since 2008 on this site. She offers consultancy on RTI matters and third party audit to individuals / organisations. Her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation at the link https://www.rtifoundationofindia.com

This step of the government, albeit late, is welcome that a big campaign is being started against non-communicable diseases responsible for eighty percent of deaths in the country. About ninety crore people above the age of thirty years will be tested for sugar, BP and cancer across the country. Actually, this campaign should have been started much earlier, however, now the government should also ensure that those who are outside the ambit of Ayushman Yojana should also get cheap medicines and medical facilities at low cost.
Yogita Malviya