State government rules mar spirit of RTI Act: study

[karira]

As reported in thaindian.com on 15 May 2008:
» State government rules mar spirit of RTI Act: study - Thaindian News

State government rules mar spirit of RTI Act: study

New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) The Right to Information (RTI) Act has become a complicated tool for the common man to use because of different rules framed by various state governments, a study by a voluntary organisation says. On the basis of a research in seven states - Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Orissa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh - this year, the Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) study concludes that the state RTI rules going against the spirit of the RTI Act would create doubts in the citizens’ minds instead of facilitating access to information.

The study notes: “The Delhi High Court and Allahabad High Court have fixed Rs.500 as the application fee for seeking information while the Karnataka government has framed RTI rules which require the request for information to be related to one subject and not exceeding 150 words.”


In contrast to the mandate of the RTI Act that access to information should be affordable, the rate of application in Haryana is Rs.50, not a small amount for a common man, it says.

In Orissa, the cost for receiving information in the form of photocopies is Rs.5 per page and in Haryana it is Rs.10.

“It is worth noting that the central rules stipulate the rate per page photocopied to be Rs.2 per page,” the study states.

Such observations led to the conclusion that “such state government rules coming within three years of the drafting of the RTI Act create doubts in the minds of the citizens about the intention of the state governments and competent authorities to facilitate citizens’ access to information”.

[Dr.R.K.D.Goel]

16.05.2008
In Gujarat the File notings are still refused. In Vadodara Municipal corporation Vadodara if an RTI applicat wants a map or CD of water lines from JNNURM projects will have to pay Rs 5000/- for a copy of map or CD. A map can be prepared in Rs 50/ and the CD also in Rs 50/-
This all to hide the corruption ruled Corporation under Mr. Narendra Modi who has given a slogan "don't eat and aslo don't allow others to eat. When this is candition of Gujarat where you can see transparency?
Dr.R.K.D.Goel

[karira]

Originally Posted by Dr.R.K.D.Goel

16.05.2008
In Gujarat the File notings are still refused. In Vadodara Municipal corporation Vadodara if an RTI applicat wants a map or CD of water lines from JNNURM projects will have to pay Rs 5000/- for a copy of map or CD. A map can be prepared in Rs 50/ and the CD also in Rs 50/-

Dr Goel,

Just for your information, if a Municipal Corporation or a civic authority receives funds from JNNURM, it has a obligation to mandatory disclose certain information and optionally disclose certain other matters. If they do not do that, they will not get the next tranche of funds.

Just check if this is being done in Vadodara or not. If not, you can ask through RTI as to why it is not being done.

Please refer to the following threads:

Big spend, bigger corruption
PMC to make public disclosure of all records
Soon, a community participation law
New act to better RTI