Public have right to seek info on tenders

[karira]

HYDERABAD: Information Commissioner under the Right to Information (RTI) Act R. Dileep Reddy on Wednesday said that the information on the process of tender evaluation must necessarily be in public domain.

Mr. Reddy made this assertion in reference to information sought by S. Basu of Sumeru (India) Pvt Ltd of Kolkata from the public information officer (PIO) of the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), Kothagudem.

Mr. Basu sought to know the details of minutes of tender committee meeting; copy of the visit report of the SCCL to Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd to inspect Promtractor Dozer/pipe layer/ and or any other equipment; names of officials with whom the SCCL team discussed at Neyveli and the date of opening of the price bid of different parties.

The PIO and the appellate authority denied the information invoking Section 8 (1) (e) of the RTI Act, 2005. After hearing both sides, the Information Commission of the State upheld Mr. Basu's contention and felt that the public had a right to seek the information as it involved huge amounts and the aforesaid Section could not be invoked in this case.

The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Public have right to seek info on tenders'