It Appears that We Are Creating at least Waves.

[colnrkurup]

After a long time, now I received Copy of a notice of Hearing of a 16 months old second appeal of mine. I am highly impressed with the marked improvements in CIC complying with most of my general pleas to the CIC over the perod on various issues. Let me quote below extract of it
x x x
The above notice for Hearing order the CPIO and his AA that
" 2. The Commission has directed you to appear in person and present your case. In case you have taken assistance of any officer under Section 5(4) of the Right to Information Act, such person should also be notified and asked to appear before the Commision on the date and time mentioned above."
3. In case of non-appearance of yoursor of the officer whose assistance has been taken under Section 5(4)of the RTI Act, the matter will be heard and decided 'ex parte' "
x x x x
Copy to Col NR Kurup.....
may at his discretion be present in person or through his duly authorized representative or may opt not to be present for hearing through Video conferencing at VC Division.....,Trivandrum.(Contact person Mr.G.jayaprakash, Mr.Ranjeet, Telephone No...........)
Sd/-
Pankaj KP Shreyaskar,
Deputy Secretary & Joint Registrar.
x x x
The above is in full agreement with explicit provisions of the RTI Act including my persistant pleas on Section 19(5) If this the standard the CIC maintain now, we should have no crib at least on the above aspects. Here the CIC has accepted that it is not obligatory for an appellant to appear for hearing, CPIO and AA has to attend the hearing, in case of their absence the case will decided ex partee, the appellant if choose to attend the hearing, he need not reach Delhi but can present through video conferencing, gave the telephone number and name of the pesons concerned arrnging video conferencing etc., etc.,At least I am fully satisfied with the above Notice and procedure for hearing. This convince me that our efforts are at least creating waves.

[colnrkurup]

To add it further, just now I received a telephonic enquiry from CIC's office, checking whether I have received the notice as well as my decision on attending the hearing.

I am unable to believe that this is the present practice of CIC ! ! ! Hope CIC has not placed a mole in this forum

[prbhat_gen]

i think, your 2nd appeal might have hit some (politically) sensitive matter.

so they are taking extra precautions.

[karira]

Originally Posted by colnrkurup

To add it further, just now I received a telephonic enquiry from CIC's office, checking whether I have received the notice as well as my decision on attending the hearing.

I am unable to believe that this is the present practice of CIC ! ! ! Hope CIC has not placed a mole in this forum

What is the subject matter of the appeal ?

[nukebomb]

sir . i have experinced through my rti applications that as soon as application is recieved , a wave of fear flows though the blood veins of the person/officer who is enquired upon,since rti focus on one individual who has taken the decision or granted somthing or approved some thing . He fears that his decision now will go in public domain . if he has mis-used his power and authoority then he fears to death.LONG LIVE RTI

[ganpat1956]

Originally Posted by colnrkurup

To add it further, just now I received a telephonic enquiry from CIC's office, checking whether I have received the notice as well as my decision on attending the hearing.

I am unable to believe that this is the present practice of CIC ! ! ! Hope CIC has not placed a mole in this forum

Colonel Sir,

It is the long-standing belief of persons like Karira & me that people from the CIC(may be even the ICs themselves) are frequent visitors to this forum. No need to place a mole, since we are open to unregistered guests as well.

[colnrkurup]

The issue pertains to certain inhuman directions of Managing Director, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Schme resulting in undue hardship to poor old Exservicemen in general. Initially it was a complaint to the CIC against the CPIO not replying to my request for information. The FAA replied that my application was already replied. I had proved that the reply furnished does not pertain to my request but reply to my complaint referred to them by His Excellency the President of India two months prior to my filing the request. My complaint to the CIC was heard when the Army authorities promissed to the CIC to solve the problem and sought time .The CIC had granted me permission to seek second appeal in case the problem is not solved. When there was no improvement nor the specific information sought was not forthcoming I had filed a second appeal.

Subsequently things moved too fast. I found the MD., ECHS (a Retired General reemployed) changed or removed, the OIC of the local ECHS also removed. Things improved drastically that now no one has any problem. The information I had requested is now redundant. In fact now I had intimated the CIC that the information I had sought is redundant as the authorities have rectified the problem.