A meet for officials on how to tackle RTI spam

**Atul Patankar** · 07-30-2009, 01:53 PM

As reported at expressbuzz.com on 30 July 2009

TUMKUR: How to put off pesky RTI applicants. This was one of the topics covered at a workshop for revenue officials, in Tumkur on Wednesday. In his keynote address, state information commissioner H N Krishna observed that 40 per cent of the applications filed under the RTI Act were frivolous and tipped off officials on how to duck them tactfully.

Some of his suggestions included using provisions of the RTI Act to prevent its misuse by “troublesome’’ public.

For instance, under Section 6(3), officers have the option of transferring files to higher ups if they do not have exhaustive information at their level and charge Rs 2 per copy of information.

And under 7(3), if the information is voluminous, the applicant should be asked to visit the record room at a specified time and date.

For the first one hour it will be free and thereafter, Rs 10 is charged every 30 minutes.

He then asked officers not to entertain below poverty line (BPL) cards which he said, were being used to obtain information of up to 100 pages free of cost. He said this had resulted in increase in number of RTI applications, mostly with ulterior motives.

“Do not entertain BPL cards. They are meant only for availing rations from fair price depots.

Demand income certificates provided by the tahsildar concerned,” he suggested.

Source: A meet for officials on how to tackle RTI spam

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**Atul Patankar** · 07-30-2009, 02:07 PM

Sponsorer

Here is another Information Commissioner, holding prejudice against people asking for information. 40% applications frivolous, training officers how to duck them, will not accept BPL card as proof of BPL status, wants to stop applications with 'ulterior motives'.

One can imagine the fate of appeals reaching the honourable SIC, and the 'comfort level' the PIOs and FAAs will enjoy. They can even expect a pat on the back, if they come up with some intelligent method of 'ducking the frivolous application'!