Life convict uses RTI to prove innocence

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Life convict uses RTI to prove innocence

As reported by Koride Mahesh, Times of India, 15 Aug 2008, TNN

HYDERABAD: In a unique case, a life convict has sought information
from the GHMC under the Right to Information Act (RTI) to defend
himself in a murder case before the Supreme Court.

Mohd Irfan Ali, a resident of Old Santoshnagar, has been convicted in
the murder case of M A Qadeer, a former employee of Wakf Board.
Currently lodged at the Cherlapally open air jail, he also sought
school records from the education department in Nizamabad.

"Generally, we forward letters to relatives and friends of inmates.
But Irfan Ali is the only convict who sought information under the RTI
that too to defend his case," K Kesava Naidu, superintendent of jails,
Prisoners of Agriculture Colony, Cherlapally, told 'TOI'.

Ali, who earlier worked at the Secretariat in the revenue department,
was convicted by the additional metropolitan sessions judge on January
24, 2003, in the murder case. Subsequently, he moved the high court.
His appeal was dismissed by the court on October 17, 2003. Then he
filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court through the
secretary, Supreme Court Legal Aid Services Committee, New Delhi.

Ali said he needed the voter's list pertaining to the addresses of
four houses in Santosh Nagar, Old Santosh Nagar and Hafeezbaba Nagar,
where he reportedly resided in the 1990s. He sent the request first to
the zonal commissioner, south zone, but was informed he should
approach the GHMC additional commissioner (elections) for voter's
list. Then, Ali sent the letter to the election wing on July 28.

"I have been implicated in the murder case. The copies of voter's list
are important to prove my innocence in the case," Ali said in his RTI
application. However, his efforts went down the drain as GHMC replied
a couple of days ago that since the information sought was over 18
years old, records were sent to the state archives department. It
advised him to approach the department.
...

Life convict uses RTI to prove innocence-Hyderabad-Cities-The Times of India