Don't Beat me ! I won't Improve

[colnrkurup]

In local language there is a saying that " Please don't beat me father ! I won't improve ".I had a case of high-handedness and could'nt careless attitude of the PIOs following pass on the buck exercise in utter disregards to the RTI Act. The respondents being from the Commissionerate, Land Revenue of the sate, they were neck-high as if nothing could be done to them. Despite geeting the information I sough from, I took this as a challlenge and kept on pressing the issue despite all type of oppositions. Started feeding evidences which were impossible to defeat or ignore. I was keen to know as to how the SIC ignore or close this case. After nearly 1 1/2 years, to-day I got the final orders. Following is extract of relevant portion which shows that the SIC, Kerla is beyond any scope for improvement commensurate with the old saying - "Please don't beat me ! I won't improve"
x x x x x

........The Commission directed the SPIO & Additional Secretary, Revenue (G) Department to intimate information about the SPIOs in the concerned public authorities, who handled the case, for proceeding against them. Accodingly, the SPIO has given the names of the officers. After considering the report of the aforementioned SPIO, the Commission had issued Section 20 notice to the SPIO in the office of the Commissioner of Land Revenue.
2. The SPIO in the office of the Commissioner of Land Revenue had submitted his explanation. The Commission perused the explanation. The bonafides of the respondent is never dobted; but:
(i) He should have organised work in the office suitably, so that the right to information application/complaints/1st appels receive due attention as contemplated under the Act ;and
(ii) The extracts of the request should have been sent to the SPIO concerned, within 5 days of the receript of the u/ 6(3)(ii) of the RTI Act. The explanation is accepted and with the above observations, further proceedings are dropped

Dated this the 6th dy of September 2008Sd/-
Palat Mohandas,
Chief Information Commissioner.
x x x x
This means despite the allegation being fully established to the complete satisfaction of the Commission, he has let off the guilty after my struggle of nearly 1 year.

[karira]

Orders like these might be just the start of RTI falling into a large black hole.

[jps50]

Only new non-bureaucratic blood in CIC/SICs can now save RTI. CIC/SICs are turning into dirty govt offices with all their vices. However, IC-in waiting Shri Shailesh Gandhi had adopted novel idea to expose and sensitise Maharashtra SIC, which is available on Humjanenge group of Yahoo. I had posted at this portal also two days back, but it has not appeared so far. It is worth perusing-a ray of hope.

[abhi987]

Is that a website Humjanenge group, can you share the link with us.