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by kushal | 
We are happy to announce RTI INDIA is now available to all its subscriber via Free SMS. Now you can know the latest news, success stories, important events and much more about Right to Information by subscribing to our SMS channel.
Please visit our channel link to subscribe to our Free SMS service.
http://labs.google.co.in/smschannels...be/RTIINDIASMS
Alternatively you can subscribe to RTI INDIA SMS by sending an SMS:
ON RTIINDIASMS to 9870807070
Thank You for being part of our community.
RTI INDIA TEAM
At any point of time you want to unsubscribe from RTIINDIASMS channel, send an SMS <off rtiindiasms=""> to 9870807070
</off>
This service is an additional but free subscription based service and you are not automatically subscribed to the channel by us while you register at our site. | | |
by kushal | On our second Anniversary I said 'Let us Connect, Network and Reach out', the dream was not Myopic. On 27th September 2009 just over 3 years of our existence we are 100,000 member strong community. With more than 4 lakhs pages of community posts at our website, surely we are proud of our members who either posted a question, or an answer, or wrote a blog which made Right to Information worthwhile.
Do you have a success story to share with us: Now Post your video at RTI INDIA!
On this occasion we are introducing a new forum at RTI INDIA, RTI Community - RTI Videos at rtiindia.org which is meant for all our members to upload and share videos via YouTube. I invite all of our community members to take part in the forum.
We are also announcing the launch of RTI INDIA Video Channel at YouTube. Visit YouTube - RTIINDIA's Channel
We intend to share and bring together all Right to Information related videos at one place through this channel. To become more familiar with the functioning kindly visit the thread here.
Continuing our zeal to bring all cross section of people to be part of our community we have opened many more mediums to do so via social networking sites.
- Facebook: Join us via Facebook, become fan of our site here: RTI INDIA | Facebook
- Twitter: Follow us on twitter here: RTI INDIA (rtiindia) on Twitter. We post interesting threads selected at RTI INDIA website here. Also we intend to use it as our minor site announcement portal.
- Orkut: Join us if you are available at orkut, visit the link here orkut -
Very importantly, our core team has decided to accept the following members as our 'Community Builders' and we are happy to welcome them as our team members on this very important milestone event:
Dillip Kumar Mohapatra, Sunaab Sarkar, Jayeshbheda & Ajay Kumar Bhal
I am sure the hard work they have done to help the community grow till date, will surely enrich all of us in times to come.
Lastly, this official post cannot end without the acknowledgment of our team members untiring efforts, those voluntary monetary supporters who made their contribution towards running this site, and all those contributory members who by way of their knowledge and desire had been enriching all of us from the journey we performed from 1 member to 100000 members.
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by ganpat1956 | Today, September 28, is the International Right to Information Day. On this day in 2006, RTI India .Org was started by Dr Kushal Pathak, a physician by education, but who nevertheless took up Civil Services to a lucrative career in medicine. His penchant for curing the ills of the society and the encouragement provided by the younger generation of his like-minded friends in the bureaucracy, led him to float this web site. In the three years time, this site has now grown into a membership of 90,000 socially conscious persons throughout the length and breadth of this country, besides several NRI members. They hail from every walk of life—retired people, commoners, teachers, advocates, professionals, entrepreneurs, serving officers, house wives et al.
The founders of this portal being part of the civil services, there is an imperative need to ensure that this site is not used by anybody to demean the govt nor to conduct a crusade or campaign against it. To that extent, we believe in active moderation . This portal is only meant in a very strict sense to help citizens and others in the rightful interpretation of Act and helping in the queries they have, by the shared resource of the members at large. We are happy that by and large our members have understood the boundaries we have set for ourselves and have extended their due cooperation on this count.
RTI India has earned a niche for itself in the web world thanks to the dedicated efforts of all the activists. The site carries over 3,35,000 web pages of discussions, spread out in various sections and sub-sections. The search engines simply love this site and at any point of time one can observe the presence of not less than a score or two of various search engine bots and spiders crawling around for information. With the result, anything that gets posted here can be located through a web search in the next five to ten minutes. This has led to increased new member registrations, which are in the order of 300 to 400 everyday, making the task of our Community Builders, a challenging one. Site statistics reveal that about 80% of the visitors to our portal every day are new entrants.
From a handful of Info Warriors who started it all in 2006, we were 1100 at the time of our first anniversary, 12000 on our second anniversary and now with a 90000+ vibrant membership, we are marching ahead to the six digit figure, which we shall be reaching before the end of this year.
To repeat the words of our Chief Dreamer & Architech, " We are proud of our Members who had made our community efforts a success, either by way of a question or by posting a solution or simply being here with us. We are also thankful to those who contributed by way of assimilating news about Right to Information and shared with all of us in the RTI News section. Many appreciation would go left unnoticed if we did not mention those who contributed in the blogging, guide and directory segment. Again a Big Thanks to all those who made monetary contributions for meeting the bandwidth cost and thus reaffirmed their faith in our community work."
Discuss this Announcement Here:
"http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/31322-...niversary.html" | | |
by ra_10 | | Since past few years the State Urban Development authority had been pumping sewage water into our land, which was having an ill effect on the quality of our land. We filed an RTI application seeking information on the intended route of the sewage water, why it was diverted to our land, the compensation we would be granted for the harm done and the penalty to the officers responsible. The reply to the application stated that there was no such thing being done - no sewage water was being pumped and no further action was to be taken on this. Although the reply wasn’t directly helpful, RTI helped because the authorities completely diverted the route of sewage water away from our land and it has stayed like that since. Hence, we achieved the desired results.:) | | |
by karira |
26-yr-old visually challenged man will receive first Rahul Mangaonkar RTI Award
Ratna Ala, a visually challenged 26-year-old youth, who used RTI to expose the improprieties of the local administration and got development to his village, will become the first recipient of the Rahul Mangaonkar Award for Best Use of RTI for Common Cause.
The award was conceptualised to cherish and perpetuate the legacy of TOI journalist Rahul Mangaonkar, who had pioneered the use of Right to Information in journalism. Ala will be felicitated at Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Auditorium on Sunday at 10.30 am.
A native of Rangpur in Wankaner taluka of Rajkot district, Ala is visually impaired. He used the RTI to replace a stony path connecting his village to the main highway by a two-kilometre pucca road. His family belongs to below the poverty line.
Ala, a class X passout, used RTI to get information on several schemes that the panchayat had claimed it had implemented but had not done so.
Rahul Mangaonkar, an activist-journalist, passed away on May 5, 2009. He used RTI as a tool to expose irregularities in the local administration and provided a non-confrontational attitude to the RTI movement.
The award is not just a tribute to Mangaonkar but an encouragement to common citizens who use the tool to make a difference to the society at large.
As reported in ahmedabadmirror.com on 19 July 2009:
26-yr-old visually challenged man will receive first Rahul Mangaonkar RTI Award , News - City - Ahmedabad Mirror,Ahmedabad Mirror | | |
by kushal | On 15th May 2009, RTI INDIA reached the registration count of 50000 members. Please join us on our celebrations here!
Our immediate goal is to make rtiindia.org an even more welcoming place and make it easier for users to find the information they're looking for regarding Right to Information.
Over the past few months, we've been actively ramping up team and reorganizing it so the team can be bigger, faster, and better than ever before. In the same effort we are pleased to announce following active members as our team members:
- Sandeep Baheti (sandeepbaheti): Has been given additional responsibility as 'Moderator' of RTI INDIA.
- Atul Patankar (Atul Patankar): Has been inducted in our team as 'News Digger' at RTI INDIA
- E.V.DEVENDRANATH (evdnath), G.MARUTHI (GM VISHNU) & Prabhakar HL (prabha.hl) has been inducted as 'Community Builders' at RTI INDIA
We think the new additions to our team are great assets to rtiindia.org - something we think you'll agree with as you get to know some of our new team members over the coming months. Please visit our Team Members Page here.
While in the past discussions were a bit freewheeling, we're going to renew our effort to keep discussions focused, in accord with our published posting guidelines. Polite discussion and constructive criticism will be welcome, but we are going to be better about moderating discussions to keep them on topic.
With Best Regards,
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by aparnakarmarkar |
My name is Aparna Karmarkar. I live in Pune and practice as an architect. I had filed my Income Tax Reaturn for the Finincial year 2007-08 on July31st ,2008. I had claimed a refund of Rupees Four Thousand and Thirty Six rupees.
I waited patiently for the refund till June,2009. No action from Income Tax Office. When I told this story to Mr.Atul Patankar, he was very kind to introduce me to the idea of RTI !!
He made the application ready, we filled in the necessary details and filed the application on June 10th, 2009. I was surprised when the sleepy department started calling me. The concerned officer told me that he has posted the cheque and could I please widraw the application? Again Mr.Patankar advised me not to do so , till I had a cheque in my hands.
Thanks to RTI and Mr.Atul Patankar, I received my cheque on July 2nd, 2009. What's more, I did not pay a single paisa as a bribe!!!
With best regards,
Aparna Karmarkar
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by dhanabalan |
RTI Act is really helpful to me. Police officials were misused the FIRs. Each FIR contains 6 sheets. Police used only 3 sheets to register the case. Other 3 sheets were used to threaten the innocents to get the bribe and then destroyed the 3 sheets. I unearthed through RTI.
FIR printed numbers and Crime numbers are not tallying. In some cases FIRs were reserved for later use. In some cases, crime numbers were reserved. Further, 5 crime numbers were booked in one FIR. Some FIR copies were not sent to court. Some FIR copies are not available in station, in DSP office and in court. I unearthed all this through RTI. Now I filed a petition in High court to direct the Vigilance & Anticorruption to register FIR against the police officials.
One person murdered his illegal second wife and the body was destroyed in fire without informing to police and Village Administrative Officer. That person paid bribe to police for not registering FIR against him. I sent application under RTI. DGP replied "on enquiry she died due to eating of poison". The ADGP destroyed the file connected with the reply of DGP. I filed a petition at High Court to register FIR. FIR was registered under IPC 176, which is non cognizable offence. Even the FIR was not sent to the JM court. ADGP and other police officials would be booked for not registering FIR under section IPC 201.
Police received bribe from the criminals and FIR was not registered for the theft complaints from 2005. I complained to IGP. IGP directed to register FIR. Afraid of departmental action by the IGP for the refusal to register FIR, police officials received signature from the petitioners in blank empty white paper and they later filled as they like. Some petitioners complained to the IGP and SP. No action. I sent complaint to DGP. No reply. Appealed at Information Commission. Enquiry was conducted by Information commission. PIO gave a non speaking, incomplete and evading answer. I again appealed to the Commission.
RTI Act is a powerful tool. But the Information Commissioners are very lienient. The PIOs are exploiting the leniency.
Thank you.
Dhanabalan
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by sujy40 | dear all,
I would like to share my experience of getting IT refunds which had been pending for 10 Assessment Years ie from1996-97 till date by using the RTI Act. I am indebted to this website for the information provided without which the refunds would not have marerialised. During the process i have gained insights which i would like to share with all members.
Numerous representations and meeting IT Dept officers yielded no results. After seeing this website I filed an application under the RTI Act. Information regarding status of my refunds was denied by the ITO(Income Tax Officer) under Sec 8(1)(j) stating that info sought was of a personal nature and was not inthe larger public interest. The letter also stated that the application would be treated as a Grievance petition and action taken expeditiously.
I filed an appeal against this to the First Appellate Authority on the following grounds . I based my reasons for appeal on a judgement given by the delhi High Court which i found on this website and is reproduced below.
] Judgement of HON’BLE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
in WP(C) No. 3114/2007 decided on 03.12.2007 :
“………As is reflected in its preambular paragraphs, the enactment seeks to promote transparency, arrest corruption and to hold the Government and its instrumentalities accountable to the governed. This spirit of the Act must be borne in mind while construing the provisions contained therein. Access to information, under Section 3 of the Act, is the rule and exemptions under Section 8, the exception. Section 8 being a restriction on this fundamental right, must therefore is to be strictly construed. It should not be interpreted in manner as to shadow the very right itself.”
I also gave the following grounds for my appeal.
1.denial of information by the PIO(public Information Officer) amounted to denial of justice of a genuine grievance.
2.Transparency was lacking since no reason whatsoever was given for the inordinate delay.
3. the IT Dept and and its instrumentalities had not been accountable to the governed.
4. The letter of the law was being followed while the spirit of the law was being ignored.
5. This went against the High Court judgement qouted above.
6. The assessing officer had failed in carrying out one of his main functions which is to ensure that all taxpayers grievances are attended in time and redressed in a fixed time bound manner.
Within 20 days of the appeal cheques for the entire amount of approx Rs 3 lakhs were received by me in Regd Post/Speed post letters.
To strengthen my arguement, I had included following details downloaded from the IT Dept's website :
.
EXTRACTS FROM CITIZENS CHARTER (IT Dept Website):
WE BELIEVE :-
ØIn transparency and fairness.
ØIn encouraging and assisting taxpayers
WE AIM :-
ØTo redress/dispose off a complaint/grievance within two months from the end of the month of its receipt.
Functions of Assessing Officers . (Extract from IT website)
No 3 &4 are relevant.
(1)
1.Allotting PANs wherever required
2.Making IRLA operational and ensuring that all demands are entered into this system
3.Seeing that all tax payers grievances are attended in time and redressed in a fixed time bound manner
(1) 4. Ensuring timely collection of demands and issue of refunds.
5.Selection of cases for scrutiny in time and ensuring their timely disposal
6. Controlling all computer hardware and software of the range and ensuring its maintenance replacement and updating. Providing technical support
and guidance for operation of the computer system.
(1) 7.Taking all necessary steps for widening of the tax base.
(1) 8. Internal Audit functions.
9.Ensuring that appeal effects are given and central scrutiny
(1)reports are submitted in time.
10.Statutory functions.
St
(1)I would advise following steps to ensure refunds materialise quickly :
STEP I . Forward a grievance petition to the ITO where the IT Return has been filed. Wait for 60 days. This 60 day gap is required since IT dept has stipulated 60 days as time by which grievance petitions are to be disposed off.If no response-go to STEP II.
STEP II. File an application under RTI Act to concerned PIO (Public Information Officer). Usually it is the ITO of the concerned ward Where the IT Return has been filed. Make sure to state at the end of the application " If you are not the concerned officer, please forward it to the concernrd officer in accordance with Sec 6(1) of the Act. If no reply for 30 days, file an application to the first Appellate Authority. If info sought is denied under Sec 8(i)(j) then also appeal to First Appelate Authority stating grounds which i have listed earlier. Download forms available in this website for filing applications as these forms are comprehensive and the PIO cannot wriggle out on techncalities.
The refund will materialise.
Happy hunting.
Col S V Sundar
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by vijaygarge59 |
I think Information is the power.
and in true sense it is the confidence
we can serve humanity and nation through it.
thanks to rtiindia.org..
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All About RTI RTI Buzz Forums Start A Thread | RTI News & Discussion |  Law ministry unaware of judges' files: RTI... | |
As reported at sify.com on 12 March 2010
The law ministry has no list of judges whose files for being elevated to the Supreme Court were returned at least once by the president. Nor is it aware of who might have this information, a reply under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed.
RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal had asked the law and justice ministry for the list of judges whose files for being elevated as judge of Supreme Court or as judge/chief justice of a high court were returned at least once by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He has also asked for information regarding the names of judges who were ultimately elevated as judge of Supreme Court or as judge/chief justice of the high court after their files for elevation were returned at least once by Rashtrapati Bhavan.
'The CPIO (Central Public Information Officer) informed the applicant that no such list is maintained by this department and therefore no information can be furnished,' said Ramesh Abhishek of the justice department in his reply to Agrawal.
'I am not aware of any other public authority who might be having the information sought by the applicant.'
Source: Law ministry unaware of judges' files: RTI reply
| | Civic body's Rs1 lakh RTI fee stuns... | |
As reported by Ashutosh Shukla at dnaindia.com on March 12, 2010
Mumbai: When he decided to apply for information under the Right to Information Act, Amit Maru had thought it would be a routine affair. So, imagine his shock when he was told that the information he required would cost him a whopping Rs1 lakh.
Maru had sought information on the rooms allotted to project affected persons (PAPs) all over Mumbai since 1995, from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s estate department.
PAPs are allotted rooms by authorities if they come in the way of infrastructural projects after due verification. Maru had also asked for details of the verification done by the authority on these project affected persons. However, he was told something that, according to him, ‘makes no sense’.
“Most importantly this letter saying I have to pay Rs1 lakh is not even signed by the public information officer (PIO). Someone has signed on his behalf, which is wrong. A part of the information I require pertains to another department, but instead of forwarding my request, they simply said the information did not belong to them,” Maru said. “They are also supposed to justify the amount they ask,” he added indignantly.
However, experts said there could be a reason behind the response. “Signing for the PIO is unquestionably wrong, but in certain cases where the information required is a lot, which could be possible in this case, officers check a few files and then give a rough estimate or ask the person to come and inspect the files himself.
What the applicant can now ask for is whether the amount they are asking is for only A4 size papers or are there plans in it. In case they are available in the electronic format, it may be easier to procure it at a cheaper cost. But, if the applicant’s intention is to monitor some government project, it is better to mark out an area and then seek details of the place instead of for the entire city,” said Bhaskar Prabhu, an RTI activist.
Another activist Krishnaraj Rao said, “It is definitely wrong on the part of the officer not to give a reason behind the exorbitant charge. It is mandatory for them to do so in cases where the information required runs into lakhs of pages. But, in this case the officer has asked the applicant to come and check the files himself, which means that the information is voluminous. Obviously, the applicant had no idea what it meant.”
Source: Civic body's Rs1 lakh RTI fee stuns applicant - dnaindia.com
| | RTI covers info on tax refunds | |
As reported at timesofindia.indiatimes.com on Mar 12, 2010
CHENNAI: Getting tax refunds from the income-tax (I-T) department is a hassle for many citizens, who either do not receive it or get it only after many years. In a landmark ruling, the Central Information Commissioner has passed an order which said information on refunds is covered under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The Central Information Commissioner while passing the order, said "To deny the appellant information sought by him under clause (e) or clause (j) of section 8(1) is nothing but misappreciation of law."
"The information sought by the appellant is covered under section 2(f) of the RTI Act and he has a right of seek information under section 2(j) thereof. It is clarified that the appellant has not sought any information which the public authority is holding in fiduciary capacity," M L Sharma, CIC, said in his order.
Source: RTI covers info on tax refunds - India Business - Biz - The Times of India
| | In India, deadly backlash against freedom of... | |
An article by Daniel Pepper in csmonitor.com on 10 March 2010:
In India, deadly backlash against freedom of information activists / The Christian Science Monitor - CSMonitor.com
In India, deadly backlash against freedom of information activists
Activists in India have been hospitalized or even killed as they tap the 2005 freedom of information act to expose government corruption.
National Congress Party Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are at odds over the groundbreaking freedom of information act that many say is the first step to breaking down widespread corruption problems in India.
New Delhi, India
When Ajay Kumar asked New Delhi authorities last fall why a local politician had authorized the construction of private houses and shops on public land, he didn’t imagine the question would land him in the hospital.
The activist had inquired using India’s 2005 Right to Information (RTI) Act, which allows any citizen to ask for information from any level of government, from village leaders to the office of the prime minister. It presents a cultural sea change in India, where for more than 60 years state bureaucrats have acted more like colonial masters than servants of the people.
Mr. Kumar was stonewalled by the public information officer at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, so he followed procedure and appealed to a higher-level public information office in the MCD. When he still heard nothing back, he went to the federal authorities, the Central Information Commission, which directed the MCD together with the police to jointly inspect the property.
But when Kumar arrived on site in January, he was attacked by a mob of two dozen that backed the local politician.
“Neither the police nor the people helped me,” says Kumar, who was beaten in the head repeatedly by an iron rod, leaving him unconscious and bleeding profusely. Kumar is now pursuing the matter in court.
Despite the attack, Kumar says, “RTI is the only tool that can bring an end to a corruption in India. Previously there was no point in asking because the applications were not replied to. At least now, since 2005, these public authorities are in some way compelled to answer queries of the public. It is a starting point.”
Kumar is optimistic that he will one day see justice, but critics say attacks like these are becoming increasingly common. In the past two months two respected information activists have been killed, and reports are emerging of many others who are threatened, bullied, and intimidated to silence their inquiries into government misconduct.
Attacks will likely increase
The RTI Act is among the most robust for information seekers around the world, and its strength is becoming clear in the backlash against people seeking to expose corruption.
"What has happened with the RTI Act is that it is threatening people in power,” says Colin Gonzalves, a Supreme Court lawyer and director of the New Delhi-based Human Rights Law Network. “We cannot underestimate how hostile the administration is to the implementation to this Act – not just the politicians but also the judiciary. RTI empowers people to say that the administration is the servant of the people that you are answerable to us. The physical attacks on the people I think are going to increase over the years."
In rural areas, the act is often utilized to uncover scams involving federal- and state-funded initiatives to provide employment, housing, food, and other services to the poorest segments of society. “You ask for a list of beneficiaries," says prominent New Delhi-based RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. "Then you check that list and find out that many people are dead and the list is bogus.”
According to a study published last July by the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information, and funded in part by the Google Foundation, in the first two-and-a-half years since RTI went into effect about 400,000 applications for information were filed from rural areas and 1.6 million from urban areas.
While much of the information requested ought to be public in the first place, like the size of a particular budget for a school or road, or why a particular applicant received a job or promotion, most government bureaucrats in India habitually keep such matters under lock and key.
Right to information – on paper
With the RTI Act, failure to furnish applicants their information within 30 days can result in steep fines. This week one RTI applicant was awarded 100,000 rupees, or about $2,200, by the Central Information Commission in compensation for delays.
At a meeting in the capital of the poverty-stricken northern Indian state of Bihar last November, 49 activists spoke about fighting trumped-up arrest warrants and other attempts to silence their efforts. None of the warrants have stood up under scrutiny, they claim. On Feb. 14 in Bihar, well-known RTI activist Shashidhar Mishra was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on motorcycles at the entrance of his home. He had been working to expose local welfare schemes.
A month before, in the tech hub of Pune, a couple hours outside Mumbai, another activist, Satish Shetty, was killed while on his morning walk. Mr. Shetty had a record of exposing land scams in his area. Shetty had received threats on his life and requested police protection, though none was provided. The High Court in Bombay asked the state government to investigate the killing.
The upswing of violence has dire implications to Shailesh Gandhi, a commissioner with the Central Information Commission, the country’s highest authority for RTI applications.
“It tells me that the rule of law is almost absent. The truth is that powerful people feel there is no law,” Mr. Gandhi says.
Gandhi and his handful of interns, whom he pays from his own pocket, managed to go through almost 6,000 files last year. In the past 14 months he’s penalized 120 public information offices for not providing information in a timely fashion, or at all. He hopes to start cracking the whip even harder, he says. “Penalties are important.”
Last month headlines blazed across India that the New Delhi High Court ruled in favor of a RTI applicants who sought information about the office of India’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, such as his personal assets and decisions relating the appointment of lower-court judges. On Monday, the Supreme Court moved to challenge the order.
And just this last week, a disagreement between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the leader of the ruling National Congress Party Sonia Gandhi became public after the Mr. Singh advocated amending RTI Act, something activists strongly oppose, fearing it might be watered down.
Shailesh Gandhi agrees: "I am 100 percent convinced that any changes in the Act would be to the citizen's detriment."
| | False affidavit row: Court summons Athagarh... | |
As reported in expressbuzz.com on 11 March 2010:
False affidavit row: Court summons Athagarh MLA
False affidavit row: Court summons Athagarh MLA
SALEPUR: The sub-divisional Judicial Ma g i s t r at e (SDJM) , Athagarh, has summoned Athagarh MLA Ramesh Rout to the court on April 5. Hearing the case filed by Athagarh sub-collector-cum-retuning officer for Athagarh Assembly constituency Aravind Agrawal against Rout for allegedly filing a false affidavit, SDJM Saumendra Kumar Rajguru issued the summons notice to Rout.
According to reports, at the time of filing of nomination papers for Assembly poll on April 4, 2009, Rout had shown in his affidavit that he had passed Class IX from Biswanath Bidyapitha. After Rout won the election, one Siba Narayan Patnaik sought information under the RTI Act from Biswanath Bidyapitha and came to know that Rout was not at all a student of that school.
Alleging that Rout had filed a false affidavit, Patnaik then filed a case against Rout in Athagarh SDJM court.
Different petitions were also sent to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) as well as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Orissa. On the advice of CEC, the CEO then sought a report in this regard from the retuning officer. The returning officer conducted an inquiry and submitted a report to the CEO, finding Rout guilty. Acting on the direction of the CEO, Agrawal filed a case against Rout in Athagarh SDJM court on March 2.
The SDJM took cognisance of the matter on March 4 and issued notice to Rout through the Assembly secretary.
| | KPCL powerless to stop staff exodus | |
As reported by Niranjan Kaggare in bangaloremirror.com on 11 March 2010:
KPCL powerless to stop staff exodus, News - City - Bangalore Mirror,Bangalore Mirror
KPCL powerless to stop staff exodus
Hundreds of its engineers have been lured away over the past few years by lucrative private sector offers
Not enough in a time of power crisis that the state’s apex power generation body, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL), has to contend with shortages of water and coal, it is also losing its human ‘resources’ to the private sector. The alarming attrition rate — close to 400 engineers have quit over the past few years — has raised concerns over the state government’s ability to augment power production through new projects.
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According to information obtained by Bangalore Mirror under the RTI Act from KPCL, the company — which has a proud, 100-year history of generating power in the state — faces a shortfall of around 300 engineers, while the current vacancies for engineers are around 265. The company has 665 engineers at various power generating stations across the state.
According to sources in KPCL, hefty pay packets offered by private power companies are luring away its engineers. The situation is compounded by the fact that the last pay revision for government engineers was in January 2004. Besides, the company has stopped recruitments since 2005. The exodus has had a cascading effect, with current staffers, especially junior engineers and assistant engineers, marking time before they bag a lucrative private sector offer, said a KPCL official.
A break-up of the vacancies reveals that 52 assistant electrical engineer’s posts, 41 assistant mechanical engineer’s posts,
72 junior electrical engineer’s posts, and 44 mechanical engineer’s posts are left unfilled in KPCL. In the last seven years, 95 engineers have quit while 276 engineers have decided to take voluntary retirement. In 2007 alone, as many as 50 engineers quit to join the private sector. In 2009, 11 engineers quit the company and 12 engineers took voluntary retirement.
The rash of resignations has affected the major generating stations more than the smaller ones. The Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) at Shaktinagar, Raichur district, which generates close to half of the total electricity produced in the state, faces a shortfall of 86 engineers, including 27 electrical engineers. The Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) is itself short of 48 engineers, including 24 electrical engineers.
The state’s hydro-electric stations have not been spared either. The Sharavathy Valley project in Shimoga has a shortfall of 45 engineers, including 28 electrical engineers. The Kali hydro electric project is short of 40 engineers, including 27 electrical engineers.
RUSH TO LEAVE
<table summary="" width="200" align="left" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td> Year
</td> <td> VRS
</td> <td> Resigned
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2003
</td> <td> 92
</td> <td> 04
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2004
</td> <td> 80
</td> <td> 03
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2005
</td> <td> 63
</td> <td> 04
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2006
</td> <td> -
</td> <td> 11
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2007
</td> <td> 10
</td> <td> 50
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2008
</td> <td> 19
</td> <td> 12
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2009
</td> <td> 12
</td> <td> 11
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
| | Contract workers’ records: Zagade promises action... | |
As reported in indianexpress.com on 10 March 2010:
Contract workers’ records: Zagade promises action against errant officials
Contract workers’ records: Zagade promises action against errant officials
The State Information Commissioner (SIC) recently passed an order that the commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will be held responsible if the departments of the civic body fail to maintain a record of contract labourers and their wages. The order passed by the SIC Commissioner (Pune division) Vijay Kuvalekar states that it is the responsibility of the PMC commissioner to ensure that all records pertaining to employees of private contractors executing its development projects are maintained.
“I am yet to receive the order. If I find department heads not keeping the record of contract labourers, strict action will be taken against them,” said PMC Commissioner Mahesh Zagadeon Tuesday.
The order came after the PMC failed to furnish information on the pending wages of 58 contract labourers of the water supply department. The order, passed on February 20, had asked the PMC to furnish the information about the contract labourers to SIC by March 5.
The PMC had given the contract to Surat-based Enviro Control Associates (India) Private Limited for constructing a sewage treatment plant near Bhairoba Pumping Station in the 1990s.
The 58 contract labourers have been working as valve men since 2001 and their last wages were Rs 3,675 per month. “According to the Minimum Wages Act, we should be getting Rs 7,500 per month,” said Raju Shelar, one of the contract labourers.
When the labourers decided to move the court, their counsel advocate Ajay Patil and Sachin Palse filed an RTI application in the PMC asking for records of their attendance and payment of salary, employment provident fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) given to the workers by the contractor. “The PMC furnished incomplete information in the beginning and later submitted the contractor’s reply of all the provisions of labour law being complied by it. We then filed an appeal with the Information Commissioner of Pune division saying the information furnished to him by the PMC was incorrect and contradictory to that obtained from the Provident Fund (PF) office in Surat,” Palse said. He said that the total outstanding amount to be paid to the 58 labourers between 2001 and 2009 was Rs 29.74 lakh.
| | What are the changes in upsc examination format... | |
What are the changes that the govt. of india has agreed to do in the UPSC examination format?
Pls specify...
| | What are the changes in the format of UPSC... | |
What are the changes that the govt. of india has agreed to make in the UPSC examination format?
pls specify..
| | RTI appeal on Hek filed | |
As reported in telegraphindia.com on 10 March 2010:
The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Northeast | RTI appeal on Hek filed
RTI appeal on Hek filed
Shillong, March 9: RTI applicant B.D. Wanshnong who had sought information on BJP legislator A.L. Hek’s joining the Congress, has again filed an appeal with the Assembly to provide him with the necessary papers after the latter rejected his first application on February 19.
The applicant wanted to verify the statements of Speaker Charles Pyngrope’s ruling which exempted Hek, the lone BJP legislator who joined the Congress, from the purview of the anti-defection rule.
Hek joined the Congress in June last year. Wanshnong hails from Pynthorumkhrah, Hek’s constituency.
| | | | Ask for RTI Query | | Can appeal be forwarded u/s sec 6(3) and... | |
My issue is not with forwarding an RTI appl u/s sec 6(3). Here is how the CPIO had caused me financial harassment.
1) RTI filed with CPIO
2) Transferred to another CPIO and rejected. Asked to file appeal at Floor 1, Bldg D, City.
3) Filed 1st appeal with mailing address to Floor 1, Appellate Auth.
In the 1st appeal, it was written as
To,
Appellate Authority
CPIO,
Floor 1, Bldg D
City.
Along with the 1st appeal another RTI appl was sent with IPO.
4) No answer for 70 days and filed a letter asking what happened?
5) Now comes the answer that, He had asked me to file appeal at Floor 1 , Bldg D to appellate authority and returns my 1st appeal and also the other RTI appls.
6) (a). I file 1st appeal again, asking why the CPIO could not transfer u/s sec 6(3) if the appeal does not pertain to him
(b) Why he returned even RTI appls
(c) It is bad-faith when both the fellows sit on the same floor and cited malafide intentions.
7) Now comes the order, stating that u/s sec 6(3) only RTI appls can be transferred and not appeals. Further he suppresses about RTI appls are returned.
Question:
1) Can appeals be transferred u/s sec 6(3)? Is there any CIC decision on this ?
I spent like $300 just on these scumbags and they waste my time and money and I want to get even with them.
Appreciate your help.
| | MHRD and UGC | |
There is anomaly in the Pay-fixation of a directly recruited Reader. The MHRD Notification says the the Directly recruited Associate Professor shall be in the Pay Band of Rs.37000 - 67000 with AGP of Rs. 9000. It also says that a Reader can get this pay only after serving for 3-years after his joining the post. Thus a Junior person shall draw higher salary than a senior person.
Relevant extracts from pay fixation formula is given bellow.
2 (a) Viii: Posts of Associate-Professors shall be in the Pay Band of Rs.37400 – 67000, with AGP of Rs. 9000. Directly recruited Associate Professors shall be in the Pay Band of Rs.37400 – 67000 with AGP of Rs. 9000, at the appropriate stage in the Pay Band in terms of conditions of appointment.
2(a) IX: Incumbent Readers and Lecturers(Selection Grade) who have completed 3 years in the current pay scale of Rs. 12000 - 18300on 1.1.2006 shall be placed in Pay Band of Rs.37400 – 67000 with AGP of Rs. 9000 and shall be re-designated as Associate Professor.
2(a)X: Incumbent Readers and Lecturers(Selection Grade) who have not completed 3 years in the current pay scale of Rs. 12000 - 18300on 1.1.2006 shall be placed at the appropriate stage in Pay Band of Rs.15600 – 39100 with AGP of Rs. 8000 till they complete 3 years of service in the Grade of Lecturer(Selection Grade)/Reader, and thereafter shall be placed in Pay Band of Rs.37400 – 67000 and accordingly be re-designated Associate - Professor.
Please suggest me how to frame questions to know exactly what is meant by these contradicting provisions.
| | icse best 6 rule clarification | |
hello..i want to know about the existance of best 6 rule(out of 7 subjects) of ICSE fo calculation of overall percentage..and best 4 rule (out of 5 subjects) for ISC..i want to file a RTI to disclose that any such rule officially exists or not..to whom should i address my RTI...kindly help thanks...
| | ragarding jain minority status | |
whether jains are consider as minority community under the section 2 (c) of the national commission for minorities Act, 1972 or under any other section of any other national commision or any GR
| | Application by resident of Delhi | |
Can a resident of delhi file an aaplication under RTI to seek information about Government Officer employed in Maharshtra by Maharshtra Government about the no. of projects awarded by and completed by him in last 5 to 7 yrs.
| | Police Verification | | | | How to locate and read SMS info of RTIINDIASMS @... | |
Dear sir,
I am receivig highly useful and knowledgeable RTI infos from your new initiative RTIINDIASMS. It's really nice and very handy to know the latest on rti matters. Today I received one such info on the matter of proceedings of arms licence application ...success story-read at rtiindia.org.
I have gone through new posts but could not locate that particular post.How to locate the same and other such messages at our site for full reading. kindly help me.
with warm regards
rameshv
| | Just to say hi | |
Hi to all members, thanks for one and all
| | Sbi rti | |
Dear Menbers,
I have given an RTI application to SBI regarding my Co-brothers bank account
Information in which bank has debited Rs.20000/ and on asking information about it they are refusing to give it, the whole case is there in the attached file.
1. I have given my first RTI application on 7.1.2010 to SBI CPIO GM (network-3) local head office Delhi and submitted application at HPO Mysore Karnataka.
2. I got a letter from GM (Network-3) office on date 25.1.2010 intimating that my application has been forwarded to CPIO & AGM SBI region-2 administrative office Agra.
3. So I waited up to 35 day since the application was forwarded to some other office but up to 13-2-2010 reply to my application was not received then on 13.2.2010 I filed first appeal to appealet authority CGM SBI, local head office Delhi.
4. But on 14.2.2010 I got a reply from CPIO & AGM SBI region-2 administrative office Agra dated 8.2.2010 stating that the information sought is related to fiduciary relationship between bank and customer so bank is bound to hide such information and also it is related to third party (personal in nature) which comes under exemption category under section 8(1) (D), (E) & (J) so we can’t provide you this information.
5. I have not received any communication after my first appeal till date.
6. After receiving the reply from CPIO & AGM SBI region-2 administrative office Agra on 14.2.2010 I requested my Co-brother to send me an authorization letter to get information about his account and now it is there with me.
Now my problem is what should I do? There are 2 options what I am thinking,
1. Because 15.3.2010 is the last date to get of reply of my first appeal. Should I go for 2nd appeal in CIC, In case I do not get any reply from appealet authority?
2. Or should I can again go for first appeal before 16.3.2010 attaching the authorization letter from my co- brother.
Please guide me which option should I choose or suggest any other option available. Please read my RTI application letter attached so that u can know the whole case. and where to send 2nd appeal to State Information Center Uttar Pradesh or Central Information Center?
| | Guntur Municipal Corporation officers don't know... | |
I have submitted an application to Guntur Municipal Corporation seeking information on the 14 surplus lands/sites sanctioned by State Govt.for construction of Schools, Public Health Centres, Community Centres etc., during the year 2008. I have furnished the Survey numbers,location and extent of each land/site in my application. The information sought for is
1. Whether the all lands/sites are in the possession of the Corporation.
2. Particulars of boundaries of each land/site.
3. Detials of constructions made/started in those lands/sites.
4. Details of measures taken to protect the lands/sites from grabbers i.e., laying fencing, construction of compound wall etc.
The reply given by the PIO.
With reference to your representation it is to inform that the required information about Survey Nos. particulars in the Survey No. can be provided. You shall pay Rs.250/- per each Survey No.
The content of this letter may be understood that I have to pay Rs. 3500/- for 14 sites information. I think that the information sought for may be maximum 14 pages i.e.,one page per one land/site. But the PIO has not informed the number of pages to be supplied.
Now whether I have to write the PIO to inform the number of pages to be supplied or file first appeal to the A.A.
| | Start A Thread | Recent Threads | Hello Replies: 0 Views: 13 |
| RTI Success Stories | | Central Govt Deptt released due salary | |
My friend was working in IHBAS New Delhi. He was not given the last two month salary, as his tenure was not extended but allowed to join the office and putting signature on attendance sheet. But my friend was not given the salary of two months. He tried many times to get his salary, but IHBAS did not response and did not give his salary.
After two years, he tried to get salary. I helped him.
I filed RTI application on behalf on him. I sought copies of attendance sheet, details of tenure and copy of account statement. IHBAS authority did not reply. Ultimately I moved to CIC. In the decision, CIC posed penalty on PIO on not providing information in time. On the order of CIC, PIO of IHBAS provided all sought copies.
After taking all evidence, I filed the claim for due payment under payment of wages act.
At last IHBAS released the due salary of my friend.
It happened due to RTI
| | RTI Works (my experience) | |
Hi,
this is Ajai Vikrama Singh...
My father, Ret. Chairman - Regional Rural Bank and Ret. AGM - U.P. Co-operative Bank LKo., died on Nov. 26th 2008. He owned a SBBL gun with a license. After his death I applied for a gun license(death case) on 27th of Jan. 2009 for keeping his gun as a responsibility he left out as the other assets and family members, cause i'm the only son in the family.
I spent more than 11 months for tracing out the proceedings of my requisition suddenly RTI flashes in my mind Like a MANTRA. I write an application under the RTI act 2005 to know the proceedings regading to my Arms License application, on 19th of Dec. 2009. On 24/02/2010 I've got informed that all the reports and papers works related to my application has been completed now i can represent my self before the District Magistrate of the city to ask for a License.
This is only possible with help of The RTI ................
| | MY EPF Claim - Hyderabad EPFO | |
I have claimed my EPF amount by sending the forms to my employer on 19/Dec/2009 duly filled through courier.
Today my employer confirms that he has already sent the forms to the PF Office for process. Now how will I know on what date the PF office in Hyderabad will send the cheque or DC to my Bank in chennai. I could n't get information in EPFO site for claims in Hyderabad office.
Kindly help me as to what I should do now? I have checked my bank account also. I did not receive my PF amount till now.
| | CIC directed CAW Cell, Delhi to supply details of... | |
Hi
My wife filed complaint against me in CAW Cell and upon completeion of enquiry by CAW Cell , Nanak Pura and upon its reccomandation and FIR was registered u/s 498a/406.
I filed RTI asking them to proivde the details whether as per some circular whether IO asked for source of Stridhan in the form of Bills as well as source of income to purchase the same before reccomending FIR.
PIO and AA CAW Cell denied the info.
I filed Appeal in CIC. There representative of CAW Cell orally stated that in this case chargesheet submitted in court and hence my appeal dismissed that I can get the info from Court.
Wherease while approaching court next day found the no chargshee is available in court. So I filed RTI to CAW and Concerned PIO of case asking them the details with certified copy of doucment relied while giving oral statement in CIC.
I also filed one RTI to CIC that under what rule cic accepted oral statement in the absence of any supporting document and action on the concerned officer for abusing the provision if no rule exists. I also raised the point that why my decisions has not been released on CIC website and inform the action taken on negligent staff for not displaying the info on CIC web site. I used Life and Liberty clause.
Within 7 days I received the copy of CIC decision in my favor asking CAW Cell to release full info.
But they said no info is available that why it is not updated on CIC Website.
Vijay Naru:)
| | RECOVERED Rs.5000/-FROM BANK THOUGH RTI | |
A leading public sector bank had recovered Rs.10000/- from account of my friend’s son towards various service charges while closing the account in Nov 2009. The bank did not respond to normal channels of redressal of complaint. At my guidance, RTI application was filed on 07-12-2009 followed by first appeal for no reply on 07-02-2010. On 05-03-2010 bank contacted him and requested him to collect refund of Rs.5000/- and withdraw RTI application and first appeal.
RTI does work.
| | Success Story for IT fefund due from AY 1996-97... | |
Friends,
I am following RTI Act and this website since long but did not had courage to write under the same. However, few days back after having frustation with the Income Tax Dept, I wrote an application on 01.03.2010 for the refunds.
Surprisingly, just after 2 days i.e on 03.03.2010, I recd a letter from ITO saying they do not have the records and requests to send the duplicate return copy and a bond and they will refund immediately.
I am thankful to this forum.
| | 2007 Scholarship D.D received from CBSE | |
Central Board of Secondary Education is sanctioning scholarships to those students who got good ranks in AIEEE and pursue higher studies. A girl from Guntur got selected for sanction of scholarship in AIEEE, 2005 and 1st year scholarship amount of Rs.12,000-00 was received through demand draft since she joined in Engineering. In the 2nd year, scholarship was renewed but she did not get the demand draft. But 3rd and 4th year scholarship amounts received promptly. She wrote many letters to CBSE. No reply received. As the matter came to my notice, I searched the website of CBSE list of cheques/drafts which were returned by postal department. Not finding the name of the girl in the returned list, I preferred a RTI application in the name of her father to the CBSE in the month of November, 2009. Within 30 days, a reply received stating that the demand draft was not encashed by any one and advised to submit an Indemnity Bond to the Bank duly enclosing the format of the Indemnity Bond. Immediatrely the Indemnity Bond was submitted to CBSE. In Feb, 2010, the father of the girl received a duplicate D.D for Rs. 12,000-00 which is encashed.
The father of the girl who has no hope of getting the amount pertaining to the year 2007 received the amount with the help of RTI Act only.
| | Goc (gazetted officers certificate) | |
Dear Ambrish.p /Kushal,
Thanks i got in ur email but i was not satisfied with your reply u just directed me to the site without reading my post clearly i just asked u IS A MUNICIPAL COUNCILLOR A GAZETTED OFFICER.
I M ATTACHING A DOCUMENT FOR YOUR REF. AND PLS TELL ME IS THIS A VALID DOCUMENT GO THROUGH IT CAREFULLY. WILL PAN CARDS BE ISSUED ON THIS DOCUMENT WHEN ATTACHED AS ADDRESS PROOF AND IDENTITY PROOF.
is the attached document valid and in the site u directed did the website of nsdl mentioned that municipal councillor is a gazetted officer do let me know and email me correct link
ALSO PLS LET ME KNOW Y WAS THE THREAD CLOSED without proper reply if ur work is directing then my visitin ur website was useless wat do u both moderaters say reply
| | New Ration Card in chennai......Success | |
Dear Friends,
I would like to share my experience while obtaining a new ration card in chennai.
I had applied for new ration card in thiruvottiyur civil supplies office in chennai in the month of september. I had to submit mine and my wife's deletion certificate and my son's birth certificate along with the application. I had obtained my deletion certificate from mumbai, it was in marathi language and the name was also not written completely. It was not accepted by them. They asked me to get it in english. But, going back to mumbai and getting the certificate again was impossible for me then.
After enquiring with other officers in the ration office, i came to know that i can bring a true translation of the deletion certificate on an affidavit duly stamped and signed by any NOTARY PUBLIC who is a lawyer, you'll get many at high court. I had to pay Rs. 200 for the affidavit.
I could attach it along with my deletion certificate. i had to produce an address proff for which i used the postal address proof card provided by indian post office. After submission they gave me a slip (kind of acknowledgement card).
I was told that i will get the ration card in 60 days. It was nearing 60 days but no official came from ration office for verification which is supposed to happen after 10-15 days of form submission. Exactly on 61st day i sent them RTI application. I got information on ration offices in chennai, heads of ration offices from following links:
link inside link inside link inside link inside
Exactly on 30th day from RTI application date, officer arrived at my residence for verification. He verified our details and signed on the slip marking completion of verification process. Now the next step was only to get the ration card. The officer told me that after verification they send the details for ration card printing which takes generally takes more than a month (It depends on the printing dept.). On 1st of february i got an email from ration card office (CIVIL SUPPLIES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION DEPARTMENT) that my ration card is ready and i have to collect it after 15 days. Fortunately, i got my card in my hands on 16th feb as mentioned by them without further delay.
I forgot to mention that, the officer came for verification to our residence explicitly mentioned that it is because i applied for RTI, they came so early for verification else it would have taken months and months. Anyway i got my card.
For all those who would like to apply for ration card in chennai, i would like you to ensure the following things:
1). If you do not have anything to be used as an address proof. immediately apply for postal address proof card. You will get it in may be 15-20 days
2). While obtaining deletion certificate, ask the officer to provide it in english necessarily. Ensure that your names are written correctly and completely (FIRSTNAME MIDDLENAME(father) LASTNAME(surname))
3). Immediately after 60 days apply for RTI. Dont forget to attach the acknowledment slip. Unlike other government organizations which take Rs.10, civil supplies needs Rs.50 DD in favour of "Public Information officer, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department"
You'll get the address of your nearest ration office in the above links.
While applying for RTI you can use the same format available in this website, modify it little bit for ration card. I am attaching my application.
During this whole process i strongly felt that there should be a way to apply for RTI along with the application (let them take some extra money) but time to time update should be sent to us instead of making us wait for the stipulated time for applying for the RTI.
This is the second time i used RTI successfully, the first was for my passport from lucknow paasport office which i got after 9 months of application (after 1 month of RTI application) as if they were delivering a baby.
I would like to mention that i did not spend even a penny as a bribe........Thanks to RTI
| | Refund of security amount (from RTO alwar... | |
i was dealer of 2 wheeler in alwar rajsathan , as my 2 wheeler company stop the production , i surrendered my trade certificate by paying all my dues as i stopped the selling of vehicles . in self registration categary i deposit 25000 thousand as security and i applied for refund to RTO alwar in june 2006 and i followup the matter by sending reminders and personnel visit . in the mean time i was busy with some other business asingments but follow up was continuee
after joing the rti india and read so much material i applied in RTI act why my refund is pending . local office replied that your sanction was not recived from jaipur head office of RTO rajathan , i filed one RTI application in jaipur office after 1st appeal i got my refund as jaipur office send senction and alwar (local office) cleared and moved the file in 2/days now i got my refund in 5 months after filling RTI application .
thanks to rti india and mr kushal pahtak and form all helped me
i will take advantage to get work done throught RTI act
still government official have not changed their atitude and they try to stop to give information by lot of if and buts
anil nakra
alwar rajasthan
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