Another rti applicant treatened

[smbhappy]

Recently, a RTI Applicant who filed 2 RTI Applications with the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Ajnala District Amritsar was threatened of dire consequences if he dies not withdraw his RTI Application. The people who threatening includes the Inspector working in the office of Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Ajnala and other goons of the Secretary of the Jasraur Cooperative Agriculture Service Society (JASS), of which the RTI Applicant is a member.

The applicant used RTI route to bring about the transparency in the working of JASS and to stop the mal practices going on in over there. In and SOS Compliant to the Chief Information Commission Punjab has pleaded for the protection from the threateners. The copies of the letters written to the Chief Information Commission have also been endorsed to Punjab Human Rights Commission, Sector 34, Chandigarh.
Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Hon’ble SSP (Rural) Amritsar, SHO, Police Station Bhindia Saidan, Tel: Ajnala, Distt. Amritsar, Joint Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Jallandhar, and Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Amritsar.

This latest threat is a series of threats received by the RTI Information seekers and many had resulted fatal, as the authorities failed to take timely action in time. Copy of the letter written to various authorities is attached.

a division Bench of the High Court comprising Justices M.M. Kumar and R.N. Raina in recent past (on 08 December 2011) asked the States of Punjab, Haryana and the UT Chandigarh to review their Whistle-Blower Protection Policies and consider associating civilians also in the process of assessment of threat perception to the Whistle Blowers, including RTI Activists. Division Bench had observed that “We are of the considered view that the policies of Punjab, Haryana as well as UT Chandigarh are required to be made broad-based. The concerned committees are not only required to have in it Police officers or other officers, there is necessity to associate either Members of the Bar or other private persons like District Attorneys/ Advocate Generals, depending upon the level of the concerned Committees.”

In another case the High Court bench, taking the matter very seriously, ordered”the Bench noticed that Arora has filed several cases in the High Court thereby bringing the illegal activities of various persons to the notice of the High Court, and in view of what he has stated in para no. 3 of his application also, he faces a real threat perception. The Bench also took note of petitioner’s submission that he requires security of Chandigarh Police only on 3 or 4 occasions in a year, when he may be required to visit Punjab. The Bench also recorded the assurance of the Senior Standing Counsel for UT Chandigarh administration to do the needful, and directed that whenever petitioner has to visit Punjab, he would communicate it to the SSP, Chandigarh, who would provide requisite security to him for visiting Punjab.”

This matter is gathering dust in the air-conditioned secure rooms of the bureaucrats.