Offices continue to flout RTI Act

[ganpat1956]

Rohtak, March 15
Haryana government offices continue to violate the Right to Information Act (RTI) by denying information sought by the public and ignoring even the directions of the chief information commissioner (CIC).

In the latest instance, the office of the Haryana Roadways, Chandigarh depot stubbornly refused to provide information to Hem Chand, a resident of Kakrana village despite a directive by the CIC.

Hem Chand had asked the depot to provide him a list of the candidates selected for the post of driver in 2003. He also sought the merit list on the basis of which the selections were made. He first applied for this information in October last year.

Instead of providing him the list of the selected candidates and the merit list, the officials just informed him that there were 70 applicants in the merit list of which 49 were given appointments. He was also told that 46 candidates in the merit list were from general category, one was an ex-serviceman and six were from scheduled caste category. The letter went on to give caste and category wise details but the names of those selected and the merit list was not provided to him.

The applicant then approached the state transport commissioner (STC) in this regard, who directed the officials of the Chandigarh depot of the Haryana Roadways to provide the relevant information. However, the officials simply wrote to the STC and the applicant that the desired information had been supplied and if any clarification was needed, the applicant should visit the office of the general manager at Chandigarh.
Hem Chand then appealed to the CIC, who issued notices to the parties concerned. However, no official from the Haryana Roadways was present when the appeal was disposed off on February 21. The CIC expressed its displeasure and directed the officials to supply the information by March 4 positively but Hem Chand has not received any information as yet.

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Haryana