Right to information: Orissa activist keeps hitting brick wall

[sidmis]

Right to information: Orissa activist keeps hitting brick wall
as reported by Thai Indian News, November 15th, 2008 ICT by IANS

Bhubaneswar, Nov 15 (IANS) A social activist in Orissa has complained he has failed to get information from government organisations in response to most of the applications he has been filing under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.The 2005 act empowers citizens to demand information on the working of the government.

But Biswajit Mohanty, who claimed to have filed about 450 RTI applications in the past three years, said Friday that he has received a response to only about 60.

“Of the total applications I had filed, I have got information only for 60 applications,” said Mohanty, who usually seeks information from the Forest and Environment Department.

“While in 40-50 cases, wrongdoings of the officials concerned have come to the fore, in five cases I have got evidence of corruption against the officials.

“But hundreds of other applications are gathering dust. The Public Information Officers (PIOs) are harassing applicants time and again so that they won’t seek further information,” Mohanty claimed.
Supreme Court judges have no hesitation in handing over their tour details to RTI applicants. But Mohanty, who works as a chartered accountant, alleged he has been struggling to get similar information from a central government undertaking.

“I filed an RTI application in June this year seeking information from Paradip Port Trust (PPT) on T.A. (travel allowance) bills, leave applications and the official tour diaries of its chairman.

“The port authority denied the information on the ground that it would affect the competitive position and commercial confidentiality of the organisation since his official tour is meant to improve the trade interests of the port,” Mohanty said.

“The disclosure of place of stay during leave period may endanger the life and physical safety of the chairman PPT,” the first appellate authority of the port said after Mohanty appealed against the refusal. The appellate authority is the same official whose tour details had been sought.

Tour diaries are not the only class of documents the PPT considers beyond the purview of the RTI Act.

The administrative department of PPT has listed items like property returns of employees, note sheets of the files containing observations of employees and officers, staff selection committee and departmental promotion committee proceedings as classified/confidential documents which can be denied to any applicant.

Answer sheets of the candidates appearing for the written test in connection with selection to different posts of PPT are also prohibited, though Indian Administrative Service examination answer sheets are bound to be disclosed as per orders of the Central Information Commission.

Mohanty wondered how the PPT could deny such information when property returns of ministers and even the President can be obtained by any citizen of India.

Orissa ranks fourth in the country in terms of filing applications under the RTI Act. “While some say they are struggling for information, awareness about the act is very encouraging,” Malay Nayak, news editor of the Oriya daily The Samaya, told IANS.

“We need more awareness in both the government and public levels for successful implementation of the act,” Orissa’s information Commissioner Jagadananda told IANS.

Right to information: Orissa activist keeps hitting brick wall

[Dr.R.K.D.Goel]

16.11.2008
I too not getting the replies from the PIOs of Public Authority (PA) Vadodara Municipal Corporation Vadodara(VMC). My two applications appeals are heard by the GSCIC in October 2007 but till date not passing any orders / judgments.
My applications are of Public intertest. I asked why the Hon. Gujarat High Court Orders / Directives to remove encroachments from the water bodies of Vadodara are not followed from 26.4.1999 and who is responssible.
During these periods Mr.R.N.Das IAS, Hon'ble Gujarat State Chief Information Commissioner was the IAS under the Ministry of Urban Development and Urban Housing of Gujarat Government. I represented several times to the Hon'ble Commission and got the reply also that I will get the Orders of my appeals soon from the GSCIC but in vain. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? Mr. R.N.Das IAS GSCIC is known to be a good SCIC but why he is not passing the orders / Judgments from October 2007 I could not understand. What is the remedy now?
Dr.R.K.D. Goel Vadodara

[sidmis]

I too not getting the replies from the PIOs of Public Authority (PA) Vadodara Municipal Corporation Vadodara(VMC). My two applications appeals are heard by the GSCIC in October 2007 but till date not passing any orders / judgments.
...
What is the remedy now?


Pleases submit a complaint to the Governor of your state clearly specifying the details. You may get a hearing soon. The other alternative left is to seek a direction from the High Court. (Expensive).

[advocate rajesh]

Good suggestion Sidhart Ji .As attack is the best way of defense. the applicant should not miss an opportunity to teach the concerned a lesson.

[Dr.R.K.D.Goel]

Thank for the advice. I will now move to the Hon'ble Governor of Gujarat appeal against the GSCIC.