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<ul><li>The <keyword id="3457213" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="internet-freedom-foundation">Internet Freedom Foundation</keyword> (IFF) wants Twitter to explain why it removed Prashant Bushan’s controversial tweets even though no legal request was issued to that effect. </li><li>According to the internet rights body, Twitter’s ‘proactively’ removal amounts to an impediment of the right to free speech and freedom of expression.</li><li>For Twitter, removing Bhushan’s tweet led to an acquittal from the case.</li></ul>Twitter may have wrangled itself free from the clutches of India’s <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> by removing activist and lawyer <keyword id="6368850" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="prashant-bhushan">Prashant Bhushan</keyword>’s tweets from the social networking platform, but there are others who believe that the social networking giant has some explaining to do. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77649463" title="Prashant Bhushan rejects Supreme Court's offer to delay sentence but is given two to three days to reconsider statement" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), an internet rights body, has written to Twitter questioning its move to ‘proactively’ remove Bhushan’s tweets from the platform without any directive being issued to that effect by the courts. That too before any decision was made on whether Bhushan is ‘guilty of contempt’. "Twitter is committed to defending and protecting freedom of expression in India and around the globe. Nonetheless, Twitter endeavors at all times to comply with local law and Twitter’s action in this case is consistent with local legal standard," the social networking platform said with respect to IFF's letter. Removing the tweets led to the Supreme Court acquitting Twitter from Bhushan’s case ruling that, “The intention of <keyword id="749437" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter-India">Twitter India</keyword> would not be considered against the court.” <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77107560" title="Tweets criticising India's Supreme Court get tagged as 'hate speech' and incur the judge's wrath ⁠— Twitter caught in the crossfire" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Others see it as an abuse of power. “By proactively censoring online content in the absence of any direction from a court mandating the same, Twitter’s actions in the case against Bhushan have set a dangerous precedent for free speech,” said <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Gow1p29T-4_ODJJBKvG47L1NZ78dAlwRMNGNzf1rHJA/viewform?edit_requested=true">IFF’s letter to Twitter.</a> Twitter jumps the gun The Twitter feud in India stems from two tweets that Bhushan put out criticising the Chief Justice of India, Ashok Bhushan, and the Indian judiciary. Twitter was called upon to explain why the tweets were not taken down. Defending Twitter India, senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, explained that necessary instructions need to be given to Twitter for them to take down the tweet. He added that the proper authority to address the issue lies with Twitter’s global office in California — not India. “The issuance of notice by the Supreme Court does not amount to a determination of illegality in any way,” explains IFF’s letter. However, before the second hearing, the tweets disappeared from the platform and was replaced with the message, “This Tweet from @pbhushan1 has been withheld in response to a legal demand.” This even as IFF asserts that no legal demand was filed. “The removal of the actual tweets from Twitter’s platform does not serve any purpose except erasure of the historical record, especially in the absence of a clear and specific judicial direction requiring the same,” says the advocacy group’s letter. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77539437" title="Supreme Court wields the ‘iron hand’ in holding Prashant Bhushan guilty for tweets critical of judiciary and chief justice" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The letter is led by Bhushan’s lawyer, Dushyant Dave and has a 100 signatories so far. According to the social network's latest Transparency Report, India already ranks fifth-highest in terms of removal requests globally after Japan, Russia, Turkey, and South Korea. Updated: Earlier version did not include Twitter's comment on IFF's letter. Countries ahead of India in terms of removal requests also was not included. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-eyes-indias-sharechat-as-microsoft-goes-after-tiktok-in-the-us-heres-why-it-makes-sense/articleshow/77667345.cms">Google eyes India’s ShareChat as Microsoft goes after TikTok in the US — here’s why it makes sense</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/gmail-down-users-report-being-unable-to-send-emails-and-attach-files/articleshow/77648762.cms">Gmail is working again — Google fixes issue without explaining what went wrong</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/isro-chandrayaan-2-identifies-craters-that-may-have-water-after-mapping-4-million-square-kilometres-of-the-moon-in-its-first-year/slidelist/77667105.cms">ISRO’s Chandrayaan 2 identifies craters that may have water after mapping 4 million square kilometres of the Moon in its first year</a>

Twitter's decision to 'proactively' remove Prashant Bhushan's tweets opposed by internet rights body

<ul><li>India’s <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> has issued a contempt notice against activist and lawyer <keyword id="6368850" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="prashant-bhushan">Prashant Bhushan</keyword> over a tweet about the Chief Justice of India (CJI).</li><li>The petition, filed by Advocate Mahek Maheshwari, claims that the tweet will “spread hate in the form of anti-India campaign.”</li><li>The petition added that the justices in India were still hearing cases over video conferencing stating, “They are not even enjoying vacation properly.”</li></ul>The latest news potboiler in India is the case against activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan where the Supreme Court has issued a contempt notice. All the fuss is over a couple of tweets that Bhushan put out criticising the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on June 29. <a href="https://twitter.com/pbhushan1/status/1277483749739917318"> </a> <div type="image" title="bushan CJI tweet" msid="77107652" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Prashant Bushan&amp;#39;s tweet questioning the Supreme Court&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <div type="image" title="bushan tweet 2_edited" msid="77107673" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Prashant Bushan&amp;#39;s tweet accusing the CJI of denying citizens their fundamental rights&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The petition filed by Advocate <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-378581.pdf">Mahek Maheshwari</a> alleges that the tweet uploaded by Bhushan was nothing more than a “cheap publicity stunt” to “spread hatred in the form of anti-India campaign.” And Twitter is caught in the crossfire. The petition criticized the social networking giant’s India arm for not disabling the tweet or deactivating Bushan’s handle. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="77033471" title="Twitter India has until the end of this month to respond to a plea against it for 'anti-national activities'" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> “We are, prima facie, of the view that the aforesaid statements on Twitter have brought the administration of justice in disrepute and are capable of undermining the dignity and authority of the Institution of the Supreme Court in general and the office of the CJI in particular in the eyes of the public at large,” said the court order against Bhushan and Twitter. Maheshwari added that since Bhushan is a lawyer — and an influential one at that — his remarks could seriously affect the perception of the CJI’s character and appearance. “Tweet is of serious nature putting a big question on the sovereign function of CJI and their abiding nature to the Constitution of India,” said the petition filed by Advocate Mahek Maheshwari. <div type="image" title="bushan tweet 3_edited" msid="77107695" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The picture at the center of the controvery&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The petitioner took time to appease the judges for listening to cases via video conferencing during the lockdown. “They are not even enjoying vacation properly. In Summum Bonum statement that the CJI is denying fundamental right to citizens is totally wrong,” said the petition. Summum Bonum is a Latin term which translates to ‘the ultimate goal’ or the ‘highest good’. The risk for Twitter In India, there’s already an ongoing campaign against Twitter. A series of webinars with some very influential people including the likes of BJP leader Vinit Goenka, former Infosys executive and an investor Mohandas Pai, former National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt Gen. Pant, and a host of former army generals have called for a crackdown on the social media platform for being partisan against India’s “national interests”. Goenka has also filed a petition with the Supreme Court directing the government to create a mechanism to keep content and advertisements on Twitter in check. The social-networking giant has been at odds with the Indian government after a slew of accounts supporting right-wing ideologues were <a href="https://www.opindia.com/2018/03/read-why-these-right-wing-twitter-accounts-are-getting-suspended/">suspended</a> on the platform. There was also an incident where <a href="https://qz.com/india/1549310/twitter-says-its-a-global-glitch-indias-right-wing-smells-a-conspiracy/">disappearing</a> likes and retweets were allegedly discriminating against right-wing voices in India. Defending Twitter India, Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya, explained that necessary instructions need to be given to Twitter in order for them to take down the tweet. He added that the proper authority to address the issue lies with Twitter’s global office in California — not Twitter India. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/twitter-says-its-cracking-down-on-conspiracy-theory-group-qanon-and-has-already-reportedly-removed-7000-accounts/articleshow/77098746.cms">Twitter says it's cracking down on conspiracy-theory group 'QAnon' and has already reportedly removed 7,000 accounts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/coinbase-one-of-the-bitcoin-twitter-accounts-compromised-last-week-said-it-blocked-278000-from-being-transferred-to-the-attackers/articleshow/77074987.cms">Coinbase, one of the Bitcoin Twitter accounts compromised last week, said it blocked $278,000 from being transferred to the attackers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/twitter-india-has-until-the-end-of-this-month-to-respond-to-a-plea-against-it-for-anti-national-activities/articleshow/77033471.cms">Twitter India has until the end of this month to respond to a plea against it for 'anti-national activities'</a>

Tweets criticising India's Supreme Court get tagged as 'hate speech' and incur the judge's wrath ⁠— Twitter caught in the crossfire

The Prime Minister on Sunday reprimanded his party members for making inappropriate and inaccurate statements every time they see a camera. In an address telecast on his personal NaMo application, <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-modi-warns-bjp-legislators-against-making-out-of-turn-statements/articleshow/63869881.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">told</a> his party motormouths, “We make mistakes and give 'masala' to the media... as if we are great social scientists and experts to analyse issues... the moment you see a camera you start speaking. So this half-baked stuff is picked up." He also mandated that only designated spokespersons of the party will comment on issues as and when necessary. This slap on the wrist came a day after Union minister <keyword id="6344967" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="santosh-ganwar">Santosh Ganwar</keyword>’s controversial statement that “In a nation as big as India, one or two incidents of rape should not be hyped.” This comment was quick to draw criticism and he, in turn, blamed the media for ‘twist(ing)’ his statement. Here’s a refresher course on some of the other comments made in the recent past by BJP party members that might have nudged the Prime Minister to make the above statement. <ol><li>Tripura Chief Minister <keyword id="3595308" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="biplab-deb">Biplab Deb</keyword> insists Internet existed in the days of Mahabharata. Here’s the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/internet-existed-in-the-days-of-mahabharata-tripura-cm-biplab-deb/articleshow/63803490.cms?utm_source=AMPusers&amp;utm_medium=fbshare&amp;utm_campaign=socialsharebutton&amp;from=mdr">statement</a>: "India has been using internet since ages. In Mahabharata, Sanjay was blind but he narrated what was happening in the battlefield to Dhritarashtra anyway. This was due to internet and technology. Satellite also existed during that period." A day after this comment was made, the state’s Governor <keyword id="866788" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tathagata-Roy">Tathagata Roy</keyword> backed Biplab Deb’s theory by <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/governor-tathagata-roy-backs-biplabs-mahabharata-remark/articleshow/63823137.cms">saying</a>, “Tripura Chief Minister’s observations about the happenings of the Puranic period are topical. It is virtually impossible to conceive of devices like ‘Divya drishti’, Pushpaka Ratha’, etc without some kind of prototype and study thereon”. </li><li>Junior Education Minister Satyapal Singh rubbishes Darwin’s theory of evolution. Here’s what he had to <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/junior-education-minister-satyapal-singh-says-charles-darwin-wrong-nobody-saw-ape-turn-into-human-1802617">say</a>: "Darwin's theory (of evolution of humans) is scientifically wrong. It needs to change in school and college curriculum. Ever since humans came to Earth, they have always been humans." He went on to say, "Nobody, including our ancestors, have said or written that they ever saw an ape turning into a human being. No book we have read or the tales told to us by our grandparents had any such mention."</li><li>BJP leader S Ve Shekher shared a Facebook post titled “Madurai University, Governor and the Virgin Cheeks of a Girl.” This was in <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/s-ve-shekher-booked-fb-post-case-against-journos-who-pelted-stones-his-house-79991">response</a> to when the Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit inappropriately patted a woman journalist on the cheek. The rest of the post read: “I feel pity while looking at that woman journalist. She claims she was disturbed because the governor touched her. But when you read her tweets, it is understood that her intention was to target the Governor and Modi. It is actually the governor who has to wash his hands with Phenoyl after touching her. These (TN media persons) are cheap and disgusting creatures. Most people who work in the media in TN are usually Illiterate, cheap and don’t have any general knowledge. This woman is not any different.” </li><li>BJP MP <keyword id="6462806" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vinay-Katiyar">Vinay Katiyar</keyword> believes Muslims have "no business" to be in India. Here’s what he had to <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/muslims-have-no-business-to-be-in-india-bjp-mp-katiyar/articleshow/62823901.cms">say</a>: "Muslims should not be staying in India. They divided the country on the basis of their population. There is no need for them to stay in this country. They got a separate land. They should go to Bangladesh or Pakistan. They have no business to be India." </li><li>BJP youth wing leader tweeted (and then deleted) that he is responsible for the burning down of the Rohingya refugee camp in New Delhi. The fire gutted at least 50 shanties in southeast Delhi’s Sarita Vihar and rendered over 200 refugees homeless. On 15 April 15, <keyword id="6452657" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Manish-Chandela">Manish Chandela</keyword> <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-youth-wing-leader-accepts-to-burning-rohingya-camp-in-delhi-prashant-bhushan-files-complaint-5144747/">tweeted</a> from his account: “Yes, we did it and we do again #ROHINGYA QUIT INDIA.” “Well done by our heroes.” “Yes we burnt the houses of Rohingya terrorists.” Screenshots of the tweets were shared with Delhi Police by advocate <keyword id="6368850" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="prashant-bhushan">Prashant Bhushan</keyword>. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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</li></ol>Note: All these statements were made in 2018.

5 times BJP ministers gave "masala" to the media

<ul><li><keyword id="53964" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Soli-Sorabjee">Soli Sorabjee</keyword>, the <keyword id="2500151" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Former-Attorney-General-of-India">former Attorney General of India</keyword>, passed away on 30 April at the age of 91 due to complications from COVID-19.</li><li>The Padma Vibhushan awardee is most recognised for his work defending people’s freedom of expression as well as human rights. </li><li>Sorabjee is also one of the few well known names in the profession who have openly opposed lawyers that charge big bucks.</li></ul>Former <keyword id="458351" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Attorney-General-of-India">Attorney General of India</keyword>, Soli Sorabjee, passed away on Friday, at the age of 91 due to COVID-19 related issues. “He will be remembered as a legend who added strength to the pillars of democracy. I pay my deep respects to the departed soul. Condolences to the family, friends and fans,” said the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana. Sorabjee had a career that spanned across seven decades during which he served two terms as the Attorney General, once from 1989 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2004. “Despite possessing a different political persuasion, Soli [Sorabjee] has steadfastly believed in Voltaire [sic] famous dictum that he would disagree violently with anyone but defend to death that person’s right to disagree with him,” said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior Member of Parliament (MP) and senior advocate in the Supreme Court, in a <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/straight-candid/down-the-memory-lane-reminiscing-soli-sorabjee/?source=app&amp;frmapp=yes">Times of India</a> op-ed. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Work in the field of human rights and freedom of expression" comment="subhead" text="Work in the field of human rights and freedom of expression">Work in the field of human rights and freedom of expression</cmsannotation> Sorabjee is known for his work in the area of the protection of human rights and freedom of speech — an endeavour that eventually won him the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in March 2002. “If Soli was forced to choose amongst his many passions, I would guess freedom of speech and press would be his choice. His commitment to it has been unfailing and unflagging, never affected by the vicissitudes of contemporary ambiance or the burdens and exigencies of high office,” noted Singhvi. Sorabjee is also one of the few well known names in the profession who have openly opposed lawyers that charge big bucks. According to him, anyone charging ₹30 to ₹40 lakh is in the business of extortion. "If a man is willing to be robbed, will you be a thief," he <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/law/articles/5-famous-indian-lawyers-and-where-they-studied-blogId-8656">said.</a> The man has many a feather in his cap, including being the chairman of Berlin-based nonprofit organisation Transparency International and the convenor of the Minority Rights Group, in addition to being the <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/1997/19971020.HRCN814.html">special rapporteur </a>to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) since 1997. He also worked on the Citizen’s Justice Committee, which represented pro bono — without any legal fees — the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The champion for freedom of speech and expression also defended the press in many landmark Supreme Court cases revoking censorship orders and bans on publications. The most recent example of this was lawyer and activist <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-holds-prashant-bhushan-guilty-of-contempt-of-court-punishment-to-be-announced-on-august-20/articleshow/77539437.cms">Prashant Bhushan’s case</a>. Before the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-tests-prashant-bhushans-resolve-with-a-1-fine-for-critical-tweets/articleshow/77846880.cms">₹1 verdict</a> came in, Sorabjee felt the apex institution overreacted over a couple of tweets. “The court may at most give a lecture to Prashant (Bhushan) now. Warn him, but not punish him… It is a rather delicate balance to keep,” he told <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/soli-sorabjee-interview-supreme-court-overreacted-in-prashant-bhushan-contempt-case/article32420327.ece?homepage=true">The Hindu. </a> Sorabjee was born on 9 March 1930 and after studying at St. Xavier’s College and the Government Law College in Mumbai, he enrolled at the Bar in 1953. Zora Mody, Sorabjee’s daughter, is also a lawyer and a published author. She wrote the book 10 Judgements that Changed India. Sorabjee also has three granddaughters — Anjali, Aarti and Aditi.

Former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee passes away at 91

<ul><li>Born in Myanmar on June 20, 1917, Padmavati earned an M.B.B.S degree from the medical College Rangoon. She had to leave the country due to the Second World War and settle in India.</li><li>She pursued her post-graduate in the UK and specialised in <keyword id="27520" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cardiology">cardiology</keyword> in Sweden and the US at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and <keyword id="97117" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Harvard-University">Harvard University</keyword> after the war ended in 1945</li></ul> S. Padmavati, India's first female cardiologist, has passed away due to Covid-19 at the age of 103 after battling the disease for 11 days. In a statement on Sunday, O.P. Yadava, Chief Executive Officer of Delhi's National Heart Institute said: "Our very own Madam Padmavati has left us all, after her centurial terrestrial journey. She fought corona bravely but chose to move on at 11.09 p.m. on August 29. Let us keep her in our prayers forever and long." According to another statement by the National Heart Institute, also issued on Sunday, she was admitted with Covid-19 and had breathing difficulty and fever. "She developed pneumonia in both lungs and needed ventilator support. However, she sustained a cardiac arrest and passed away," it said. The noted cardiologist, also a recipient of <keyword id="9774748" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-padma-vibhushan">the Padma Vibhushan</keyword>, had set up the National Heart Institute of the All India Heart Foundation and had served as its Director and President. Born in Myanmar on June 20, 1917, Padmavati earned an M.B.B.S degree from the medical College Rangoon. She had to leave the country due to the Second World War and settle in India. She pursued her post-graduate in the UK and specialised in cardiology in Sweden and the US at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Harvard University after the war ended in 1945. On her return to India, she joined the Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi as a lecturer in Medicine, subsequently becoming Professor and Head of the Department. Later, she moved to the Maulana Azad Medical College as Director Principal and later as Consultant in Cardiology and Director at <keyword id="9855431" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-govind-ballabh-pant-hospital">the Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital</keyword>. Her research work has been on rheumatic heart disease, cor pulmonale, hypertension and coronary artery disease with special reference to epidemiology and prevention. The acclaimed doctor has published extensively in prestigious journals in India and abroad. She has taught undergraduates, post-graduates and post-doctoral fellows for over 45 years. Besides being awarded <keyword id="100507" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Padma-Bhushan">Padma Bhushan</keyword> in 1967, admavati also won the Padma Vibhushan in 1992, Harvard Medical International Award in 2003, B.C. Roy Award in 1975, Kamala Menon Research Award in 1975 and several others. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/supreme-court-tests-prashant-bhushans-resolve-with-a-1-fine-for-critical-tweets/articleshow/77846880.cms">Supreme Court tests Prashant Bhushan's resolve with a ₹1 fine for 'critical' tweets</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/thousands-of-indians-tweet-rip_pokhriyal-after-the-education-ministry-decides-to-hold-neet-and-jee-exams-in-september/articleshow/77846991.cms">Thousands of Indians tweet #RIP_POKHRIYAL after the Education Ministry decides to hold NEET and JEE exams in September</a>

India's first female cardiologist, S. Padmavati, passes away due to COVID-19

New Delhi, Apr 27 () A group of 46 under-training and recently commissioned tax officers pen a paper calling for taxing the super-rich and foreign companies to pay for fighting coronavirus pandemic, their association promptly forwards it to the government and posts it on Twitter only to clarify in less than 24 hours that the work doesn't reflect the opinion of entire revenue service officers and an apparently unhappy government said an inquiry will be launched.This is the curious story of a report that suggested raising the highest tax slab rate to 40 per cent for income above a minimum threshold of Rs 1 crore or re-introduction of wealth tax for those with a net wealth of Rs 5 crore or more to help pay for the coronavirus economic fallout.About a third of the 46 Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officers, whose name appears in credits in the 43-page report, had joined the service in 2018 and 2019 and should have been undergoing the mandatory two-year training at Nagpur-based National Academy of Direct Taxes (NADT) that is headed by senior tax officer Alka Tyagi.Though IRS Association in its tweet on April 25 evening said "almost 50 young" officers had submitted policy suggestions, the paper gives credit to 46 officers including two senior 'guides' and six other 'mentors'. The senior most mentor is a 2014 batch officer. 23 contributors to the report are from 2015 to 2018 batch and 15 participants are 2018 and 2019 batch of IRS.While Prashant Bhushan, General Secretary of IRS Association, who had forwarded the report along with a fore note to the top tax policy-making body Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on April 23, did not answer phone calls made for comments, the association president Binoy K Jha initially agreed to talk on the subject but did not answer phone calls thereafter.Meanwhile, on Monday the CBDT has written to the IRSA seeking explanation as to why the association had made public the report by these IRS officers without permission of the Board.None of the writers of the report could be immediately reached for comments but tax department officials had varied views on the reports.One senior official posted in national capital did not see anything wrong in young and fresh-out of college officers giving suggestions on tax policies. But another official posted in Mumbai said it needs to be seen how and who brought these 46 young officers together for doing the report."Maybe some senior official on the verge of retirement is trying to score brownie points by becoming the 'messiah' of Indian economy," he said, refusing to give details.Another official said it was curious how the IRS Association immediately forwarded the report to CBDT and even officially posted in on Twitter. "The disclaimer they issued almost a day later could have been issued when the report was first made public," he said.The verified Twitter handle of the Association had on April 25 evening posted: "Almost 50 young IRS officers submit policy suggestions for reviving India's economy, post COVID-19." The handle posted the full 43-page paper titled 'FORCE' or Fiscal Options &amp; Response to COVID-19 Epidemic on April 26 morning.But as the suggestion drew flak from Twitterati who said governments around the globe are offering stimulus in form of tax cuts to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, the IRS Association by evening clarified. "The paper FORCE by 50 young IRS officers suggesting policy measures had been forwarded by IRSA to CBDT for consideration. It does not purport to represent the official views of the entire IRS, or the IT Dept," it said.The Income Tax Department also in a tweet said the report did not reflect the official views of the CBDT and the Finance Ministry. It said an inquiry was being launched into why the report was shared with the public."There is some report circulating on social media regarding suggestions by a few IRS officers on tackling Covid-19 situation. It is unequivocally stated that CBDT never asked IRS Association or these officers to prepare such a report," the department tweeted late on Sunday evening. "No permission was sought by the officers before going public with their personal views &amp; suggestions, which is a violation of extant Conduct Rules. Necessary inquiry is being initiated in this matter"."It is reiterated that the impugned report does not reflect the official views of CBDT/Ministry of Finance in any manner," it said.Bhushan had written a one-page foreword when he sent FORCE report to CBDT chairman and members."The CBDT had sought feedback from our field formations across India on the ideas for revival across various sectors of the economy," he wrote on April 23. JD ANZBAL

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Twitter's decision to 'proactively' remove Prashant Bhushan's tweets opposed by internet rights body

Prabhjote Gill

Tweets criticising India's Supreme Court get tagged as 'hate speech' and incur the judge's wrath ⁠— Twitter caught in the crossfire

Prabhjote Gill

5 times BJP ministers gave "masala" to the media

Kavita Majumdar

Former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee passes away at 91

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India's first female cardiologist, S. Padmavati, passes away due to COVID-19

IANS

Curious case of a report suggesting coronavirus tax on super-rich

PTI

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