RTI Happenings: Karnataka Lokayukta denies information to protect netas?

[Sajib Nandi]

Reported by Ibnlive.in.com on Aug 09, 2012
Karnataka Lokayukta denies information to protect netas? - IBN South - IBN Karnataka - ibnlive

Bangalore: The Karnataka Lokayukta, mandated to ensure transparency and good governance, is refusing to disclose details of politicians’ assets and liabilities under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. “Disclosure of such information would cause unwarranted invasion of MLAs’ privacy and risk life and property,” said Public Information Officer and deputy registrar (Administration), Karnataka Lokayukta, Mohamed Mujhaid Ulla.

In fact, similar information is available on the Election Commission website as all candidates declare property details while contesting elections. However, the information with the Lokayukta is updated every year. Express wants its readers to know how their representatives’ assets and liabilities have changed since their elections.

Rejecting this correspondent’s request, Ulla said, “If information is disclosed, it may harm the citizen’s privacy. In the guise of transparency, it would amount to unwarranted invasion of an individual’s privacy.”

To defend his argument, he referred to a High Court observation in a case, in which an RTI request asking for property details of a state government employee was dismissed. However, the portion of the HC order Ulla cited does not categorically say that Lokayukta officials should not reveal information about MLAs’ assets under RTI.

Former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde, RTI activists and lawyers are baffled by the denial of information by the agency. “They are quoting an observation from the High Court. When I headed the Lokayukta, I gave such details under RTI,” Hegde told Express. “The purpose of filing property declarations with Lokayukta is for people to know those details. It is not correct to deny such information,” he added.

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Info on netas’ assets not people’s concern: Lokayukta


Reported by dc.asianage.com on August12,2012
Info on netas

The Lokayukta institution has turned down all RTI applications seeking details of assets filed by public representatives citing a High Court judgment which said it would put public representatives at risk of life and property. Ever since a series of private complaints were filed before the Lokayukta special court, there have been several RTI applications to the Lokayukta seeking information on MLAs and MLCs. Initially, the office of the Lokayukta furnished the information and a few applicants approached the Lokayukta court on finding discrepancies in the assets declared by the political leaders. However, now the office of the Lokayukta has said that henceforth no information on the assets and liabilities of any public representative will be furnished under RTI.

Lokayukta officials have also been stating that divulging information about the assets and liabilities of a public representative will be “invasion of their privacy”. “I feel disclosure of such information would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy and may expose them risk both to life and their property”, the Lokayukta deputy registrar said in his replies to applications.

Former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said there was no reason why information should be withheld from the public. “It is the members of the public who, after verifying the authenticity of the legislators’ declarations, can file complaints. At a time when Central Information Commission (CIC) is mulling to allow access to returns filed by both retired and in-service judges, people have the right to know the returns filed by elected representatives,’’ Justice Hedge said.