Right to information 5 times costlier

[ganpat1956]

Posted by Tribune News Service



Dharamsala, August 2
Babu Ram, a poor person from the rural area, wanted to exercise his right to information. He sought for 20-page information from a government office.

Babu Ram had to cough Rs 200 to get the information. Besides, he had to pay Rs 10 while submitting his application form for seeking information.
The reason is that right to information in Himachal Pradesh is five times costlier than Punjab. In the state, the applicants have to pay Rs 10 for per page of information, but in Punjab the people have to pay just Rs 2 per page.

The officials in various government offices said the rate was fixed by the government.

However, this high rate is keeping many people away from the right to seek information under the Act.

However, some of the officials, while speaking on the condition of anonymity, said cost of Rs 10 per page was fixed by the government, which included all costs, including the labour of the government officials in generating the information.

However, the judgments delivered by various state commissions have made it clear that under the Act, the government officials can charge only for copying the documents.

Himachal Pradesh is comparatively a poorer state vis-à-vis Punjab. People especially in rural areas have meager sources of income. So, the government should reduce the fee being charged under the Act and bring it on par with other states like Punjab.

If the charges were reduced more people would be empowered to use the Act and make the government officials accountable.

The Tribune - Indian Newspapers in English Language from two editions.

[colnrkurup]

All those state governments who indulge in increasing the degree of difficulty for obtaining information are those not having a people friendly attitude towards RTI. Though we may not be able to bring in a uniform civil code, there is no reason for creating cituations to prevail diverse Rules to govern the RTI. There appears no justification for not following a uniform Rules and Procedure for all states with regard to RTI. solution - " INFORMTION COMMISSION OF INDIA "