Kindly consider having a separate thread titled "RTI Howlers" where all unlawful, arrogant orders of CIC and SICs could be find posted with case Numbe

[colnrkurup]

Kindly consider having a separate thread titled "RTI Howlers" where all unlawful, arrogant orders of CIC and SICs could be find posted with case Numbers views of the forum and comments along with highlighting the correct action in each case. Kindly don't forget to post my favourite "CIC's (Management) Regulation 2007 "as the Item serial No.1.

[mohitgarg]

Sir,
You can create your own Social Usergroup and start that. Visit the social group page here: http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/groups/

[kushal]

Suggestion of Mohit is valid.

[judevaz]

Today's Herald, from Goa, published my opinion which was as follows :


TRANSPERANCY VERSUS E-GOVERNANCE IN THE GOA STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION
Jude Vaz, Colvale. 2299097.
.
As I was curiously browsing the site of the despotism to view the orders dismissing my appeals at http://egov.goa.nic.in/rtipublic/sicOrders.aspx?cat=1, there was a rude shock awaiting me, to notice that my appeals ( No. 34/2008, order passed on 23/07/2008, and Rev. Petition No. Order passed on ), both the status and orders were never posted on it. Even though these appeals were of a personal nature, is another question. This action of someone in the Commission, smacks of partisanship, and casts serious aspersions on the Credibility, Transparency and Integrity of the ones manning this August Office. This also exposes a cover-up of high-handedness, tyrannical despotism in the commission.
I am firmly convinced that this is a fallout of two letters to the Editor of The Herald dated 30^th May, 2008, "Wrong Information", sharply criticizing the GSIC, and another one dated 28^th February, 2008, "Wheels of Bureaucracy", regarding the RTI Act and concerned PIO’s. In fact, I have been singled out, harassed, and victimized for speaking out!
RTI Act 2005 is mainly for the benefit of the COMMON MAN of the country. I happened to get an extract of a judgement of The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India as quoted in decision by National Consumer Forum. I append below the extract for information and use by your readers.

This part succinctly discussed by the Lucknow Development Authority Vs. M.K.Gupta, (1994) 1 SCC 243 at 262-263, in the following words:

"…….. Harassment of a common man by public authorities is socially abhorring and legally impermissible. It may harm him personally but the injury to society is far more grievous. Crime and corruption thrive and prosper in the society due to lack of public resistance. Nothing is more damaging than the feeling of helplessness. An ordinary citizen instead of complaining and fighting succumbs to the pressure of undesirable functioning in offices instead of standing against it. Therefore the award of compensation for harassment by public authorities not only compensates the individual, satisfies him personally but helps in curing social evil. It may result in improving the work culture and help in changing the outlook."

A large number of appellants to CIC/SIC are not happy with the approach of ICs. Jitendra P. Shah, JUNAGADH [Gujarat ] 362 001 had authored a letter from the common man of India addressed to IC. This was placed in the meeting of ICs at the instance of Shri Wajahat Habibullah, Chief Information Commissioner, CIC, New Delhi in Nov.2007. I think our readers could use it in their dealing with anti-RTI ICs. It may perhaps work:

Oct 07 ........ Letter from an Ordinary Citizen of India
To, The Information Commissioner

Honorable Sir,
In last 60 years of independence, I have been honored for the first time, to have a right which has the potential of changing my life and that of generations to come, who prefer to live in India.
However, every thing depends on your spirit, deep intentions and mission to do some thing positive for the common Indian on the roads and in remote villages. Most of you are retired judges and IAS officers. You have been gifted by God to have this august seat, to accomplish an extraordinary mission of changing the fate of masses in the remaining years of life. I think you should thank God for his kind gesture, daily when you pray. Most of us do not get such ready-made opportunities in life.
Sir, while discharging your duties kindly keep me in view and the rest of your actions will automatically be right for the people of this country and spirit of the law.
You would be having problems of poor infrastructure, computers, non-cooperation of government, staff shortage, your old colleagues and political pressures etc etc. But Sir, look at me for a moment and you will feel privileged. You have to only decide whether you intend to please God above by honestly discharging your duties or just find out excuses. It were odds in the lives, which made men great. Gandhi did not have the luxury of facilities, but he did it for you, me and the masses.
Hope of crores of ordinary citizens rests on you and your approach. I simply wish I be respectfully treated by government officers and employees, when I refuse to bribe or try to find out where money rightly meant for my welfare, has evaporated. I will not be required to make rounds and rounds for years for my small but just and legitimate requirements. This I wish after 60 years of our independence! I think I am not asking for too much.
You can make a big difference to lives of people like me. You can make governments transparent, law abiding, fair and accountable to the people of this country. You are the right person Sir, who can take out the rights from the books of the government and put in the hands of masses. God has bestowed His powers on you. Some of you have done commendable work for common good, despite all odds. It is not the facilities but the approach and attitude that count. Once you approach your work as God’s own work, nothing will bother you and you will have inner satisfaction of having done some thing special for the masses in your remaining life time. Giving back to the society, is not it? If not now then when, Sir? Time is running out fast.
If you do not subscribe to people empowerment or you are not prepared or capable to come out of old mind frame of bureaucracy or you have joined just as a pass time after retirement or for money, perks and status, or you dare not displease your old colleagues; please, please, please do not betray God and common men of this country and voluntarily quit. Let God choose some more competent person to replace you. At this age be honest to God and to your soul, Sir. It will be in the interest of your and my future generations also, whom you would not like to be in our situation of secrecy, inordinate delays, corruption, scams, frauds, manipulations, irresponsibility, unfair practices, and and…….

I am a lay man of India and do not know much of many things. You are learned, informed and qualified. But I believe that religion does not end at the last word of prayer or at the last step of the temple, but it starts there from. If RTI fails, democracy will also fail, if not today, tomorrow.

When you are presented before God, you will definitely be required to supply information to him, under His RTI Act, as to what you did as Information Commissioner. I pray you will be in a position to happily supply Him the required information! My good wishes are with you.
I am, Sir
Yours faithfully and truly,
Common man of free and democratic India,

AWAITING REAL SWARAJ AND RAMRAJ since 1 9 4 7.
Authored by:
Jitendra P. Shah, JUNAGADH [Gujarat ] 362 001 Mob: 09924106490 October 28, 2007
Inputs from : http://www.rtiindia.org

[jps50]

I endorse suggestion of Col Kurup. Members can comment on such anti-RTI decisions and thus can be avoided in future by reframing questions or quoting decisions/judgments of the court.