RTI Chase

People who attended the various meetings and dharnas (sit-ins) in support of the right to information (RTI) legislation in India often had a special word of praise for the creative use of puppets in spreading the message about the importance of RTI.

In particular, they were impressed by a glove puppet called ‘Moofat' (Mr. Loudmouth). True to its name, this puppet could say anything and everything without apparently offending anyone.

The use of puppets enables social movements to not only enliven their campaign and attract people, but also enables them to handle difficult and sensitive ...

In his white and grey uniform, big school bag, bespectacled Mobashshir Sarwar stands out in the bustling premises of the Delhi High Court. The XII standard student has a date with the judge, one of the many he has had since he took his school to court for expelling him in December.

At 17 and already a 100-odd RTIs old, Mobashshir is no ordinary rebel. He has taken on the administration for everything from bad rotis served at the hostel to how school fee is being misused at annual functions by seeking information using the RTI.

No wonder then that on a Monday morning when his classmates were concentrating on finishing a three-hour exam paper, Mobashshir, having turned in his answer sheet in 45 minutes, was waiting in queue at the Delhi ...

The Union Ministry of Personnel and Training has sent an order to all state governments and Central government offices, asking them to submit annual property returns of all the IAS/IPS and Group ‘A’ officers which will then be put in the public ...