It has now become a fashion for the
SIC/ICs to allege on
RTI Activists that they are misusing the
RTI Act. Almost all the Press Conferences and public speeches of these "Wise Men" end up with a sermon to that effect as if 'mis use of '
RTI Act is the greatest obstacle in the way of implementing the
RTI Act. I fail to understand as to how an Activist can mis-use the Act. He can only request for an information and that too by paying Rs.10/- and other administrative expenses including speed post/registred post charges. If he is not entitled to get it as per the Act, the
PIO, AA and the
SIC have all the powers to deny it declaring that he is not entitled for that information quotting provisions of the Act. They are unable to do it because there is no such provision. All they want to convey to the public is that they are trying their best to implement the Act but the
RTI Activists are not allowing them to do so. The most interesting part is that these " Wise Men" leave the hall immediately after their sermons giving no opportunity to the public to seek their clarification. Of cource our Media do their service by promptly publishing it though the Media is not aware of wisdom/opinion or existance of a tribe called
RTI Activists. Recently I had come across another term used by the "Wise Men" - "VEXATIOUS " least realising that every criminal laws are boud to be vexatious to the delinquent and an honest, law-abiding public servant does not get annoyed in disclosing the truth.