What Reasonable asiastance means under section 5.3

[hkdubey]

Section 5.3 of the act says
Every Central Public Officer or State Public Information Officer as the case may be, shall deal with requests from person seeking information and render reasonable assistance to the person seeking such information.
What actually Reasonable asiastance means?? Can this forum discuss

[jps50]

It is premature to expect any assistance from PIO. Applicant should thank PIO if he does not create hurdles in filing RTI appln. Attitudinal changes require time and constant pushes-60 year old mind frame will take at least 6 years of intensive follow-up by RTI activists. I have enabled more than 100 persons to file RTI application, but never advised to see the PIO in person.

[hkdubey]

Jps,
No doubt you are correct but some one has to bell the cat, like wise we have to force them to assist ,
I think willfully we should make mistakes and should file appeal against them on this ground then only they will know there is provision in act that they have to assisist the information seeker too.

[abhi987]

Dear Mr. Dubey,

I recently learned that in Mumbai which is the financial capital of India, SIC sits on second appeal for one and a half year before first hearing.

So after one and half year you should be able to maintain the same tempo against the PIO.

We talk about 30 days/ 5 days / 45 days and well the great SIC coolly sits on the file for one and a half year.

Reasonable assistance??

[abhijeet]

Yesterday I met one SPIO and had a discussion ,in details.The Govt. Department is very much cooperative with few influential corrupt persons of our society. THe Spio agreed with all my points , but express their inability to do any thing against them, as it was told the Minister - in- charge(ex & present) of that Department is always whole heartedly helping those corruptions. To do that they are violating HC's directions, years after years ; SPIO is furnishing " Departmental enquiry had been stopped by the Minister himself (under the changed situation)" etc. My question is why Secretary, Joint Secretary, Dy. Secretary all will help to serve the purpose of some corrupt persons, as the Minister was/ is in favour of corruption ? The SPIO, who is the Dy. Secretary of that Dept. furnished some false/ incorrect information with malafide intention and after 1st hearing literally regretted for his ill action. This is the way SPIO is providing assistance. My point is inspite of this gross irregularity, would the biased SIC will be in favour of the SPIO only and would not impose penalty for providing false information , repeatedly ? RTI act is meant for transparent administration. We are really helpless and at the mercy of the SIC's whimsical and biased attitude towards these type of SPIOs.

[abhi987]

Dear Abhijeet,

As per the RTI Act, SIC is appointed by the Chief Minister and CIC is appointed by the Prime Minister.

You will find a number of satisfactory feed back on judgments given by Chief CIC because PM seems to be a man of integrity and he may have appointed the Chief CIC, but there may have been some influence from the supporting coalition partners for appointment of other CIC's.

Like wise State CM is responsible for appointing SIC and so for all the piling up of or incorrect judgments CM is directly responsible.

If you have just one correct and honest person who is CM, he can bring about sweeping changes in the society.

[hkdubey]

Originally Posted by abhijeet

Yesterday I met one SPIO and had a discussion ,in details.The Govt. Department is very much cooperative with few influential corrupt persons of our society. THe Spio agreed with all my points , but express their inability to do any thing against them, as it was told the Minister - in- charge(ex & present) of that Department is always whole heartedly helping those corruptions. To do that they are violating HC's directions, years after years ; SPIO is furnishing " Departmental enquiry had been stopped by the Minister himself (under the changed situation)" etc. My question is why Secretary, Joint Secretary, Dy. Secretary all will help to serve the purpose of some corrupt persons, as the Minister was/ is in favour of corruption ? The SPIO, who is the Dy. Secretary of that Dept. furnished some false/ incorrect information with malafide intention and after 1st hearing literally regretted for his ill action. This is the way SPIO is providing assistance. My point is inspite of this gross irregularity, would the biased SIC will be in favour of the SPIO only and would not impose penalty for providing false information , repeatedly ? RTI act is meant for transparent administration. We are really helpless and at the mercy of the SIC's whimsical and biased attitude towards these type of SPIOs.

If we are helpless, then RTI act is value less and is only for few influential and corrupt politicians. Then are we not wasting our time? We need one more independence from these corrupt politicians. when we will be really independent??

[hkdubey]

Originally Posted by abhi987

Dear Abhijeet,

As per the RTI Act, SIC is appointed by the Chief Minister and CIC is appointed by the Prime Minister.

You will find a number of satisfactory feed back on judgments given by Chief CIC because PM seems to be a man of integrity and he may have appointed the Chief CIC, but there may have been some influence from the supporting coalition partners for appointment of other CIC's.

Like wise State CM is responsible for appointing SIC and so for all the piling up of or incorrect judgments CM is directly responsible.

If you have just one correct and honest person who is CM, he can bring about sweeping changes in the society.

Corrupt and bad leaders are choosen by Good Voters who never votes.

[hkdubey]

Originally Posted by abhi987

Dear Abhijeet,

As per the RTI Act, SIC is appointed by the Chief Minister and CIC is appointed by the Prime Minister.

You will find a number of satisfactory feed back on judgments given by Chief CIC because PM seems to be a man of integrity and he may have appointed the Chief CIC, but there may have been some influence from the supporting coalition partners for appointment of other CIC's.

Like wise State CM is responsible for appointing SIC and so for all the piling up of or incorrect judgments CM is directly responsible.

If you have just one correct and honest person who is CM, he can bring about sweeping changes in the society.

Honest CM???? IS IT POSSIBLE?? I Doubt, If at all we get one he will be sorrounded by dishonest ministers.

[jps50]

Unfortunately, India can not get 5000 honest and patriotic citizens in 100 crore population, who can be entrusted to man state assembalies, parliament and few key positions in bureaucracy in states and centre. Once this happens, all other things will fall in line. Let us wait it to happen some day.

[hkdubey]

you are correct we should not leave hope. Every cloud has a silver line frnd

[vijendra singh]

Reasonable assistance means that PIO will give all possible efforts in delaying/ denying the info to the citizen. And such PIO shall never be punished by ICs. I may be wrong theoritically ; but practically it is TRUE.

[abhi987]

Dear jps50 & hkdubeyji,

I am waiting for that day to come.

God Bless India.

Let us all pray to God.

[abhijeet]

In the heart of my mind, I do believe- we shall overcome some day.
But the point is when that some day will come !

[hkdubey]

Friends,
Your posts confirm that there are many still majority "I say them silent class still waiting for good days. Evils are vocal class for them RTI is misuse because it forces them to give wrong information may be under pressure.
Woh Subah kabhi tu aayegi dear. No doubt there is still hope.
In my opinion There is a cycle of every thing. and every thing revolves around it one day good time is also there. We have got a role to it. Let us work for it whole heartedly.
"Jub gham ka andhera ghir aaye tu samjho ki sabera dur nahi, Hur raat ka hey yah paigham yahi, tarey bhi yahi doharatey hey "

[sidmis]

As aptly explained by JPS, reasonable Assistance practically means nothing. This clause was inserted as a "Feel Good" Factor.
It is neither properly defined u/s 2 nor it can be enforced.

If the APIO/PIO simply accepts your RTI application then consider it as Resonable Assistance.

In fact it's the PIO/APIO who themselves need assistance(all sorts).

[hkdubey]

Originally Posted by sidmis

As aptly explained by JPS, reasonable Assistance practically means nothing. This clause was inserted as a "Feel Good" Factor.
It is neither properly defined u/s 2 nor it can be enforced.

If the APIO/PIO simply accepts your RTI application then consider it as Resonable Assistance.

In fact it's the PIO/APIO who themselves need assistance(all sorts).

It is good that you mentioned reasonable assistance is a feel Good factor, You dont mean that RTI act as feel good factor. No frnd if we wil be dishearten then wht others will feel, We have to see that we really feel Good.
My Utter request dont get disheartened. Hum Honge Kamyaab dont forget this. Only for that this forum is there Let us Join Hands.

[hkdubey]

Originally Posted by abhijeet

Yesterday I met one SPIO and had a discussion ,in details.The Govt. Department is very much cooperative with few influential corrupt persons of our society. THe Spio agreed with all my points , but express their inability to do any thing against them, as it was told the Minister - in- charge(ex & present) of that Department is always whole heartedly helping those corruptions. To do that they are violating HC's directions, years after years ; SPIO is furnishing " Departmental enquiry had been stopped by the Minister himself (under the changed situation)" etc. My question is why Secretary, Joint Secretary, Dy. Secretary all will help to serve the purpose of some corrupt persons, as the Minister was/ is in favour of corruption ? The SPIO, who is the Dy. Secretary of that Dept. furnished some false/ incorrect information with malafide intention and after 1st hearing literally regretted for his ill action. This is the way SPIO is providing assistance. My point is inspite of this gross irregularity, would the biased SIC will be in favour of the SPIO only and would not impose penalty for providing false information , repeatedly ? RTI act is meant for transparent administration. We are really helpless and at the mercy of the SIC's whimsical and biased attitude towards these type of SPIOs.

Abhijeet,
Can we not unite together to over come this, After all only 5 Pandabs Won 100 Kaurabs then why we cannot?? Is it not our will power is not upto that level. I shall pray this forum will enable us to unite to kill this evil in our system. we have to think a lot. You have got a cause. Unless we know the causes it is difficult to treat. Let us know the causes and think for the treatment. We will win at last.

[sidmis]

"No frnd if we wil be dishearten then wht others will feel"

No, I am yet to feel that way. Otherwise I would have left this forum. Though I have my moments of disappointments I still have some faith left on this sunshine Act.

Many thanks for the encouraging words.

Sidharth

[sidmis]

> Can we not unite together to over come this.

Hello HKD,

I liked this idea of Uniting Together. So what's your plan on it?

Sorry for barging in. This message was intended for Abhijit.

Sid