Another step towards e-RTI application

[jiwateshwar]

Today seems to be a good day for me and Sidmis as we both had excellent success with RTI today.

The matter of my application was once discussed previously in this forum. Kindly see the link. Electronic means of RTI Application

Chandigarh has a public-window based system for facilitating the process of making RTI applications. These public window systems have been put up by Department of IT. Kindly read more about it here. Payment of fee

Some time back I had filed an RTI application with through the same window. However the PIO claimed that my application reached him with a delay of 12 days. I then filed an RTI application with department of IT to check if the claim of the first PIO was indeed true. In this RTI application I also questioned the PIO as about the emailed copy of RTI applications which is forwarded to the PIO. The PIO repeatedly tried to dodge this query. He would quote various sections and sub-sections from RTi Act. He would write all kind of non-sense. My repeated attempts to gain an acceptabel response failed miserably. Through his final decision, the PIO communicated that the e-copy of application has absolutely no relevance at all and that he can not provide any further information on it as it is a policy matter.

Today the hearing on my first appeal was finally held. I was suprised at teh kind of hospitality rendered out to me over there. During the two hour long hearing on the matter, 5 different officers were summoned from various branches of the department. Following were the outcomes of my hearing:

...1: The DoIT will hold an official inquiry into the cause of delay in delivery of my application. The erring official would be fined with the cost of Information which was sought through the application that had been delayed. (cost is Rs. 4500/-)

...2: The Department would check through it's own servers as to whether the PIO (delayed application) did indeed check his email and had read my application or not (emailed copy).

...3: Advice appropriate action aginst him to the concerned PA.

...4: It has now been made policy that the 30 day time period for delivery of information would start from the time the scanned copy of the RTI Application gets delivered to the CPIOs email address. The Director ordered a circular to this effect to be framed and forwarded to the Joint Secretary Home (Chandigarh) and ask him to forward the same to all PAs comming under Chandigarh Administration.

...5: Issue warning letter to the courier agency for delivery of application (hard copy) same day itself.

...6: Seek comments from officials who were responsible for forwarding the application in time but failed to do so.

This is really great day for me as for the last 3 months I had been trying hard to put a meaning to the e-copy of RTi applications which are sent to the CPIOs. THe matter had reached up to the Joint Secretary Chandigarh (highest IAS officer in Chandigarh) and he too had refused to comment on the application or pass an order on it. THe matter had appeared in news papers as well.

[colnrkurup]

You are lucky to live in Chandigargh. One should compare the plight of cityzens in other state to realise it. Look at the condition of " Gods Own Country - Kerala " where the government claim cent percent literacy etc., etc., One typical Example - The Chief Minister of Kerala has a full-fledged 'Chief Minister's Public Grievence Redressal Cell' with everything including a video Conferencing facility where the CM personally answer the complainant and it is telecast in TV every week regularly. Of course I refrain from comenting on the effectiveness. In certain case where I had filed complaint with documentary evidences of innumerable incidences of corruption of certain department, I had gained under RTI,the CMPGR Cell was evading action. I do not know whether it is brought to the CM's notice. I have been senting E-mail Reminders repeatedly. I could not get even an acknowledgement. To-day I had sent my 22nd Reminder. Please see the contrast.

[jps50]

Col Sir, most of CMs are not interested in anticorruption drives. What we lack is not infrastructure and gadgetary etc, it is the will. We do not elect or rather cannot elect honest and people centric representatives any more. Why not try anticorrption dept or better PIL in High Court. Politicians are to some extent amenable to higher courts only.

[colnrkurup]

Though this is not an RTI issue but being the aftermath of RTI let me share my experience on this. With the documentary evidence establishing corruption of certain public servantemerged with the help of RTI, I had gate crashed into the office of the Enquiry Commission and Special Judge of this Zone. He was kind enough to hear me and order an Investigation by the District V & AC Bureau and to submit report within 2 months. An Inspector of V & AC B started the inquiry. When he was about to complete,quite a few incidents inconvenient to the Vested interest emerged. This Inspector is seen trnsferred immediately. The new Inspector posted in his place seems quite cooperative with the vested interest. His questions are as if it is from the Vested Interest. He is beating around the bush since last one year with no result. His views were too obvious. I had therefore approached the Division Bench of the Hon'ble Kerala Lok Ayukta. The Division Bench arrange monthly hearing at my Disrict or adjascant districts. They heard me and ordered issue of notice to the delinquent public servants. The case is posted for further hearing on 19-10-2008 and the delinquents are required to be present on that date. Let us see the result.

The High Court being far away at 6 hours train journy, I may not be able to keep track of the PIL and I do not wish to employ Advocates.

[jps50]

Col Sir, when going gets tough, tough gets going ! Your singleminded chase will encourge others to fight corruption. Thanks

[abhijeet]

In West Bengal, I had submitted 1st appeal through e- mail to the FAA of Kolkata Municipal Corporation ; and I am glad to mention here that it was accepted and became fruitful. Though the 'reply' provided was irrelevant etc. But e mail was accepted and further query /reminder through e- mails in KMC was also made. No problem in this regard.
Now I had a question to ask--- whether a Public Authority will furnish ' information' through e- mail or not ? If it is available through e-mail , it will be much helpful .

[sidmis]

Originally Posted by abhijeet

whether a Public Authority will furnish ' information' through e- mail or not ? If it is available through e-mail , it will be much helpful .

Yes it is possible to get information through email. U/S 2(j)(iv)
(iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device;

[abhijeet]

It was known to me; but some of our PIOs ( SIC is very much soft towards them ) do not bother much of this act. It is known to them that FAA will simply say 'Nothing more to add', without going to the reason of rejection of queries and finally our SIC's role is well known to all of them. But now it is the time to have information through e- mail .