Cunning PIOs

[colnrkurup]

Irrespective of the effectiveness of the SICs, the 30 days ultimattum frustrate some of the PIOs. They resort to innumberable methods to hood-wink the dead-line. Back- dated reply is one of the normal practice. I have come acros a new method used by some of them. Just two days before the dead-line, intimate the appellant to deposit Rs.2/- as additional chages. One will find the postal date show that it was sent in time. One won't like to write reply seeking the details or other reasons for this petty amount and remit Rs.2/- It is another question that the PIO has affixed postal stamp for Rs.5/- in the envelop and has to type out a letter. Anyway he has gained few days and had a psychological satisfaction of fooling me. When one get the reply there may not be any additonal sheet. Who will initiate a case for Rs.2/- No choice but to lump.In one case when I paid the additional charges, he handed over the envelop containing information. This saved him from the burden of senting informtion by registered post. Had I argued he would have excused me from paying the additional chages. His intention was only to make me go to his office and collect the information. I think he has saved Rs.17/ to government. It is part of the game. One cannot win always There are smarter people.

[jps50]

I too came across a case of a nationalised bank CPIO of the rank of Dy. Gen. Manager where in he said in the letter that papers are enclosed, but in fact they were not attached. I call it "Miss the enclosure mischief". We insisted for faxing and emailing by scanning the papers and in few days, we recd necessary papers by post! V can also be smarter. Good will always prevail over Bad, one day or the other.

[ganpat1956]

JPS, this is an excellent idea--faxing/scanning & emailing--to be used for all cases of "missing enclosures".

[hkdubey]

I have received information which one cannot read as xerox copy is so bad

[prbhat_gen]

in my case the CPIO was suppose to send me xerox copies of 25 documents, so what he did was he send me 25 xerox copies of the same document.

[DineshK]

I too have experienced same problem number of times. Yesterday I have received a letter from Delhi Jal Board which is dated 29.07.08 (It is also the last date they have to reply my RTI application) to submit Rs. 4 as photocopy charges. It also states that I should deposit the fees within 15 days of issue of the latter else the case will closed without any further communication.

Though I have dispatched them an IPO of Rs. 10 on the same day, I wonder why they have withheld reply to my application.

[jps50]

To avert mischief of unreadable photocopies, i hav started puting followings in appln:
"Please ensure that papers submitted to me are readable and hence be photocopied properly. Unreadable material would amount to no material or information under the said act and would amount to deemed refusal by you with malafide intent."

[jps50]

Wherever, such foul play is suspected, one can open envelope in presence of a three pancha [persons] and prepare a panchanama/rojkam. One of the pancha persons should preferably be a serving or retired govt officer. If possible videography of opening the envelope can be done if one has a video camera. Then matter should be referred to FAA/CIC or SIC against PIO.

[DineshK]

Originally Posted by jps50

To avert mischief of unreadable photocopies, i hav started puting followings in appln:
"Please ensure that papers submitted to me are readable and hence be photocopied properly. Unreadable material would amount to no material or information under the said act and would amount to deemed refusal by you with malafide intent."

Great idea JPS.

[vijendra singh]

All the problems of applicant will be solved ; rather I should say no problem can arise to applicant if the info commissioners are honest , strict . PIO then will be afraid of the rules & hence will provide the demanded info within 30 days. HENCE ONE SOLUTION FOR ALL POSSIBLE PROBLEM .

[abhijeet]

In our WEST BENGAL I had submitted RTI application to 6 different Govt. Departments- but not a single Department is sending reply by faxing or e- mailing. And they really not at all are much bothered about the 30 days' time schedule . One applicant did not receive 'reply' even after 1 year, but he did not send many reminders etc, but another person tried utmost ; personally visited 4 times, talked over phone thrice, sent reminder and submitted 1st appeal- no medicine was effective . PIO simply did not send any reply even after 4 months. Complaint/ 2nd appeal is to be submitted. The most important point is that SIC's attitude. Not a single PIO was penalised fot this type of delay, as per report received.Recently one such PIO justified the delay of sending reply by mentioning that 'most of the relevant office staffs were busy with election related duty' during the period of SEVEN months. But it is not at all known to me that any election was held during the period May 07 to February, 08. After reeiving an application same PIO transferred it under section 6(3) to another PIO just after 55 days , 20 days after receiving 1st appeal . He mentioned ' please bear with us'. We have to as the PIO- friendly SIC is the supreme authority. I submittd a list of applications which was not attended to by that PIO , even after 40 to 70 days, but all in vain

[poonam agarwal]

colkrup sir . If you want to catch the thief you must run faster than him.Right ??If PIO and CPIO are cunning make a written complaint against them to FAA telling him that these smart PIO's are playing with fire . ONE THING IS SURE SIR . IN GOVT. DEPARTMENT OFFICERS FEAR WRITTEN COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM.

[colnrkurup]

Why waste efforts on such silly issues ? We should allow the PIOs also win on such trivialities occasionally to satisfy their own ego and enjoy it. After all they are not our enemies but our own fellow cityzens . We should not take such things very seriously into heart. Stick to the larger interest and principles of the RTI Act and strive to achieve that

[prbhat_gen]

Originally Posted by colnrkurup

Why waste efforts on such silly issues ? We should allow the PIOs also win on such trivialities occasionally to satisfy their own ego and enjoy it. After all they are not our enemies but our own fellow cityzens . We should not take such things very seriously into heart. Stick to the larger interest and principles of the RTI Act and strive to achieve that

coln. shaib,

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