Rakesh will do it

TOI Story on the RTI reply given by Ministry of Home Affairs.

2010-06-19T00:08:00.001+05:30

On RTI query, Centre says it has no records on Srikrishna panel

‘With No Official Status, The Committee Recommendations Can Only Be Advisory’

Nikhila Henry | TNN

Hyderabad: A government known for the paperwork it indulges in before arriving at any crucial decision, formed the Srikrishna Committee without using a single sheet of paper. Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, in fact, does not exist in central government records since there is no file recording its formation or the appointment of its members.
This revelation came about when a city-based RTI activist filed an RTI query seeking information on the formation of the committee and appointment of its members.
    In its reply, the ministry of home affairs stated that it had no records (government file) on the formation of the committee and criteria for the appointment of its members as both were done as per ‘discussions’ between Union home minister P Chidambaram and Justice B N Srikrishna.
    Interestingly, this would mean that the much-awaited recommendations of the committee scheduled to be given by the end of December, 2010, would at best be advisory in nature.
    “While the RTI was filed to find out the criteria of selection by studying the file noting, the home ministry stated that there is no file. Moreover, it is appalling to know that a committee which is meant to decide the future of the 10 Telangana districts would choose its members without any official discussion and with no filed records,” said Rakesh Kumar Dubbudu, an activist who filed the petition.
    Interestingly, the ministry directed the RTI applicant to press releases and official circulars stating the names of the
five members of the committee without explaining why the records were not available. Dubbudu, however, claimed that while the press releases and circulars might help in explaining the working of the committee this does not give it any legal grounding per se.
    Legal experts said that without a file on the formation of the committee it would be easy to prove the committee to be bogus or one which is nonreliable. “There is a procedure which the government officials and even ministers should follow while initiating any government action and this procedure was not followed during the formation of the committee. Any government in the future will be able to challenge the premise of the formation of the committee and thereby not take its recommendations,” experts said.
    The RTI reply also refutes the claim of Srikrishna committee that its terms of reference were drafted under the directions of the home ministry. But the RTI reply indicates that this was not the case. The terms of reference were formed by the Srikrishna committee itself.
    Incidentally, the revelation of the ‘informal’ formation of the committee has come out at a time when several Telangana activists are opposing the terms of reference of the committee and appointment of some of its members. There was widespread opposition to the inclusion of certain members in the committee including Ravinder Kaur from IIT Delhi, in the committee and the terms of reference of the committee were also considered to be insensitive towards Telangana by T supporters.

NDTV Story on the Farmer Suicide Numbers.

2010-06-17T18:47:00.001+05:30

Story Video : Andhra Pradesh govt overlooks farmer suicides

AP government manipulating farmer suicide data?

For all its claims of being farmer-friendly, the Congress-led UPA government doesn't have impressive statistics to back it up.

In Andhra Pradesh, for example, Central government statistics point to 22000 farmer suicide-deaths in a 10-year period whereas the state has reported less than 40 per cent of that number. And hardly one in five such families got compensation. Because the rest of the deaths, the government says, don't qualify.

Narsamma's 36-year-old son committed suicide in 2005 after the only thing that grew on his three acres, was his debt of two lakh rupees. Eight borewells had failed. He drank pesticide. Unable to see her four children die a slow death, his wife Padma also chose death. And then Narsamma's ailing husband hanged himself. And yet this family in Medak district got no help.

"This government has not helped us. How can I look after the children. How long I can live? I will also die one day and then what would be the fate of these children? Who will take care of them?

"We were told that we will get compensation but we haven't received. I managed till today but our house collapsed and there is no house for us now. I am fighting for the help,'' said Narasamma.

RTI activist Rakesh Reddy has correlated data on farmer suicide deaths from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) with that reported by the Andhra Pradesh government.

* Between 1998 and 2008, the NCRB says over 22000 farmers killed themselves in AP whereas the government figure is less than 8000.

* Less than 4700 of those suicides were treated as genuine or eligible for compensation that means just 21% of the total suicides as per NCRB data

The Congress government points out that in the last five years, Minimum Support Prices (MSP) has gone up by 100 per cent, and Andhra Pradesh has been a major beneficiary of enhanced credit and debt waiver announced by the UPA government.

D.A.Somayajulu, Advisor, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said, "There is a tendency on the part of the people to classify every suicide as agricultural suicide, because they will get some benefits. Eventually, the local MLA, the local RDO, agricultural extension officer form a team. They go to the place the moment a suicide is reported to find out the truth, whether it is really for personal reasons or farm-related suicides. This scheme is only for farm-related suicides."

Chandrababu Naidu, during his tenure as the Chief Minister withdrew compensation to farmer suicide victim families because his government reasoned deaths due to other reasons were being classified as agriculture-related.

The Congress, then in opposition, had strongly criticised it. Ironically, now in power, the Congress is singing the same tune as Naidu.

The Hindu Article on the Farmer Suicide Numbers.

2010-06-16T12:57:00.001+05:30

Ryot suicides: State's bid to play down figures exposed

K. Venkateshwarlu

HYDERABAD: For the kind of pro-farmer image that the State governments assiduously projected for themselves and their affirmed goal of not allowing any farmer to take his life by adopting saturation concept of providing relief, this should come as a shocker.

A decade-long correlation of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on farmer suicides in Andhra Pradesh with the statistics furnished by the State government to an RTI applicant, Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu, not only shows gross under-reporting by the latter but denial of relief by classifying the tragedy as genuine and non-genuine.

Wide disparity

During the decade 1998-2008, the NCRB, an authentic source of suicides by those ‘self-employed in farming/agriculture', reported that 22,182 farmers were forced to take the extreme step. But a compilation of the State's statistics for the period shows the number as 7,683 suicides or just 34.6 per cent of the NCRB figure. The NCRB is yet to collect data for 2009 and 2010.

There is no cogent explanation forthcoming from official sources on such a wide difference except a routine elaboration on how the State machinery meticulously gathers details and verifies the suicides thoroughly by a three-member committee of Revenue Divisional Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Assistant Director of Agriculture. Whatever the methodology, the disparity exposes the attempt to play down the gravity, show a steady decline and take credit for effectively tackling the problem. Surprisingly, the variation remains, though the NCRB relies on data furnished by the State police!

What adds insult to injury, however, is the State's glaring attempt to even deny ex gratia to the unfortunate victims of mostly State policies or lack of timely intervention by categorising the tragedy. Of the 7,683 suicides recorded by it for the decade, only 4,657 were treated as genuine and eligible for relief which meant 21 per cent of the NCRB's total or 60.6 per cent of those reported by the State itself. Another interesting aspect of the 1998-2008 NCRB data is the steady rise in the number of suicides after 2004 when a slew of pro-active farmer-friendly measures, including providing ex gratia were initiated by then Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. While the farmer suicides ranged from 1,509 to 1,974 during the period 1998- 2003, it varied from 1,797 to 2,666 in the later years (2004 to 2008).

Dismal record

But comparatively and quite expectedly, all through the decade the number of suicides reported by the State for the two periods was dismal, given its propensity. The number ranged from 153 to 457 between 1998 and 2003 and from 729 to 2048 in the latter period indicating a better reporting phase. The State's reporting record of 2,048 came closest to the NCRB figure of 2,666 in the year 2004. Some consolation.

MHA trying all means to hide information on Telangana !!!

2010-06-10T20:29:00.002+05:30

Union Home Ministry(MHA) is trying very hard to hide all information regarding Telangana and related issues. They have given some very strange replies to my RTI applications. Some for sample,

1. The meeting of the 8 political parties convened by Mr Chidambaram on Jan 5th 2010 at the cost of the exchequer was a closed door meeting and no minutes were recorded.In their own words,
'Since it was a closed door meeting,proceedings of the meeting was not minuted'

Who are they trying to fool? How can such an important meeting be a closed door meeting specially after most parties took a U turn in their stands.

2. There is no file noting or file available for either the constitution of B N SriKrishna committee or the framing of the ToR of the committee. Everything seems to have happened in Chidu's brain.
’No file noting is available in the appointment of the members of the committee.'

Can the ToR and the members of such an important committee be finalised without a file in place?

3. No communication has been sent by MHA to Govt of AP to withdraw cases against students booked during the agitation.

Mr Chidambaram on Dec 9th said,
'We have requested the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh to withdraw the cases filed on or after November 2009, against all the leaders, students and others associated with present agitation. The Chief Minister informed us he will take the necessary steps in this regard'

But the reply from MHA says,
'As per record, no official communication has been sent from MHA. Statement made on 09-12-2009 contains a reference to this effect'

How is rosaiah supposed to take any action when there is nothing in writing from the MHA? What if rosaiah tomorrow says i did not hear anything from Chidambaram. This means that the statement made on 9th Dec was just an eyewash ( am not going into the discussion whether the withdrawal of cases is a good thing or a bad thing). If a statement was made,it should be followed in action.

4. They refused to share the copies of the reports sent by ESL Narasimhan saying,’The information cannot be made available at this juncture in terms of Sec 8(1)(a) of the RTI act 2005’

Sec 8(1)(a) says, 'information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence'
How can a Governor's report affect the integrity of India? Does the governor mention the places where Maoists are hiding?

All this suggests that there is every effort from MHA to hide all information about Telangana.

But why?

Use RTI !!!

Farmer Suicides in AP – The Shocking numbers !!!

2010-05-25T08:47:00.001+05:30

I Correlated NCRB (national crime records bureau) data on Farmer Suicides with the one provided by Govt of AP in a reply to my RTI application. The numbers are shocking. Some of them for sample,

1. From 1998-2008, 22182 people who were self employed in the farming/agriculture sector) committed suicide in AP.
2. Govt of AP reported only 7683 suicides for this period (which is just 34.6% of the total suicides)
3. Only 4657 of those suicides are treated as Genuine (or eligible as P Sainath says) which is just 21% of the total suicides as per NCRB data and 60.6% of the suicides as reported by GoAP.

Use RTI !!!

TOI Story on the Shamshabad Airport and the applicability of RTI !!

2010-05-17T10:06:00.003+05:30

RTI activists to move HC for vacating stay on airport info

HYDERABAD: Citizens seeking information about the functioning of Bangalore airport can go right ahead and shoot their questions under the Right to Information Act (RTI). But that's not possible in Hyderabad, Delhi or Mumbai with the airport operators in all these places having obtained a "stay" from their respective high courts on orders from the Information Commissions of the states stating that airport operators fall under the purview of the RTI. The Karnataka High Court had however confirmed the orders of the Information Commission of the state.

The stay in the case of Hyderabad airport has been in operation since last September when the management had moved the AP High Court. But now RTI activists in the city have decided to move the AP High Court seeking to vacate a stay on the case. "We have decided to approach the High Court to vacate the case at the earliest," said Umesh Varma and Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu of United Forum for RTI Activists.

The AP Information Commission had — last September — declared the airport company running the show to be a public authority as it had a 26 per cent government stake, with 13 per cent equity held by the AP government and another 13 per cent stake by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). But the airport operator, GMR, filed a writ petition in September last year challenging the decision. It was on this that the High Court put a stay order after one hearing.

The RTI activists to move the court in Hyderabad will cite a recent verdict of the Madras High Court which declared public private partnerships (PPPs) that deliver public goods as 'public authorities as they deliver public utilities'. Activists will also cite Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act, according to which any authority or body owned, controlled or substantially funded by the state government can be included within the Act's purview.

"The airport is substantially financed by the state government which is why it automatically gets covered under the RTI Act," C D Arha, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the state, told TOI. The airport operator has incidentally cited its being a PPP, for seeking an exemption under RTI Act.

“RGIA-Hyderabad” is not bound by RTI says GMR !!!

2010-04-21T20:29:00.001+05:30

One more PPP and one more drama. I filed an RTI application with AAI (Airports Authority of India) asking whether RGIA (Rajiv Gandhi International Airport) in Hyderabad is a public authority under RTI. And if yes, provide me the details of the PIO etc.

AAI transferred the application to GMR. GMR in a letter said they have filed a writ petition before the High Court of AP challenzing the applicability of RTI to GHIAL (GMR Hyderabad Intl Airport Limited). GHIAL in the writ petition contented that its not a public authority under RTI and hence RTI does not apply to them.

Sec 2(h) of the RTI act says,

(h) "public authority" means any authority or body or institution of self- government established or constituted—
(a) by or under the Constitution;
(b) by any other law made by Parliament;
(c) by any other law made by State Legislature;
(d) by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government,
and includes any—
(i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
(ii) non-Government organisation substantially financed,
directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government;

In GHIAL,

GMR Holds 63% equity
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) holds 11% equity
Government of Andhra Pradesh holds 13 % equity
Airports Authority of India holds 13% equity

In total, Govt holds a 26% equity. The total cost of this PPP (Public Private Partnership) is estimated to be INR 24.7 Billion (US$560 million) which is roughly 2500 crore rupees. So the Govt’s share is nearly 625 crore rupees.

In a similar case of DIAL (Delhi International Airport Limited)involving GMR , the central information Commission (CIC) has said,

“DIAL responded saying that they were not a ‘public authority’ as they held a 74% stake in the Joint Venture Company by the name of GMR. On making further enquiries, the Commission was told that the Government had a 26% stake in DIAL. The Commission is of the opinion that a holding of 26 per cent is quite substantial for any company and, therefore, Section 2(1) which states that any body owned, controlled or substantially financed is a public authority is applicable to DIAL and hence they are bound by the directions of the RTI. The Commission, therefore, directs DIAL to provide the information to the Appellant.”

Meanwhile, the Madras high court in a landmark verdict has said “PPPs are public authorities as they deliver public utilities”.

In holding NTADCL, which supplies water in the industrial town of Tirupur, as a public authority, the court not only favoured a “liberal interpretation” of Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act, but stated that the company was essentially carrying out an activity that constitutionally belongs to the state.

“The activity that is undertaken by the petitioner company is essentially a power vested on the municipal authority under article 243(W) read with items 5 and 6 of the XII schedule to the Constitution,” the order said.

Incorporated in 1995, NTADCL was jointly promoted by Tamil Nadu government and private company IL&FS as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to implement the Tirupur area development programme.

While IL&FS holds 27.17 per cent shareholding in NTADCL, the state government holds 17.04 per cent, according to the facts presented in the court. AIDQUA Holdings, a Mauritius-based company, holds 27.89 per cent and public-sector insurance companies hold 10.85 per cent.

NTADCL, which was the petitioner in the case, argued that since it was not “substantially financed” by the government, it could not be deemed a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act.

The court took the view that since the law did not specify the proportion of funding required for an entity to become “substantially financed”, it “will have to apply proper test in each case and apply the provisions of the RTI Act to those authorities.”

The order also relied on the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s (duties, powers and conditions of service) Act, 1971, which allows CAG to audit the accounts of any body or authority that has received no less than Rs one crore in public funding, to contend that NTADCL was “substantially financed” by the government.

“The office of the CAG can audit the accounts of the petitioner company after getting prior approval from the state government…. It cannot be contended that the petitioner company will not come within the term ‘public authority’ under Section 2(h)(d).”
The court observed that the PPPs, which generally work on build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) principle and often perform some of the activities of the local governments, “must explain to the people about their activities”.

“Every citizen has a right to know the working of such bodies, lest they may be fleeced by such companies,” the order passed by justice K. Chandru said.

It’s notable that PPPs, which have been coming up in significant numbers across the country in areas of roads, water supply, electricity supply, etc., are loath to share information with the public about their formation, operations, and finances.
Dwivedi had requested some information from NTADCL under the RTI Act, which the latter had refused stating that they were not a ‘public authority’.

The verdict is very important in the light of more and more PPP projects mushrooming across the country. We have to wait and see what GMR has to say now and what the AP High court decides.

Use RTI !!!

Reply of the Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate in Hyderabad about their representation to cut trees.

2010-04-06T22:08:00.001+05:30

I mailed the Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate in Hyderabad seeking clarification on their position. Below is a copy of my mail,

Dear Ms Juliet,
In the wake of the documents obtained by me using the Right to Information act (RTI) and also the recent news reports about the cutting of tress inside of the Paigah palace, i request you to clarify the position of the US Consulate. It has been made amply clear by the Forest Department that the US Consulate had indeed given a representation for felling of trees in Paigah Palace. The then US Ambassador had denied having any role in reply to an article in the OUTLOOK.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?237531
The reports in The Hindu, Mail Today and Eenadu are attached to this mail for your reference.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/02/stories/2010040261920600.htm
I request you to clarify the position of the US Consulate given these revelations.

This is the reply of the Public Affairs Officer Juliet Wurr.

“I’m sorry but I don’t know the answer. I assume that the Ambassador gave what he thought was true. There was no reason for him to lie. No one here now was around when the supposed event took place. I certainly would not base my answer on press reports but what I knew for a fact. And I don’t know that. Sorry.

Juliet Wurr

Public Affairs Officer

U.S Consulate General

Hyderabad, India”

I don’t know what to make of this reply. Acceptance or diplomatic or trying to run away from the issue. How can they not know the answer? The representation could not have been made in air. The copy of the representation should be available with the consulate. How can it disappear?

Use RTI !!

Article in the HINDU about US Consulate’s request for cutting trees in Paigah Palace – Use of RTI !!

2010-04-03T07:58:00.001+05:30

Trees felled on US request at Paigah Palace

K. Venkateshwarlu

Forest Department clarifies in response to an RTI application filed by an environmentalist

- File Photos: P.V. Sivakumar & Satish .H

Paigah Palace surrounded by green cover before being converted into US Consulate. (Right) US Ambassador to India David

HYDERABAD: Though the US Embassy had denied it at that time, an RTI applicant has now learnt the truth that it was indeed at the Mission's request that the many old trees were felled inside and outside the Paigah Palace, when it was leased out for a US Consulate here in 2007.

Environmentalists protested when several trees, at least one of them over a century-old, were cut down on security grounds.

Heritage building

There was an euphoria then of getting the US Consulate to Hyderabad.

The dominating view at that time was that after all Hyderabad got the Consulate amid stiff competition from Bangalore, and that should take precedence over concerns on alterations to a protected heritage building or loss of trees.

US version

Media reports about tree-felling were denied and the US Embassy passed on the buck to city civic corporation.

Referring to a report on chopping of trees in the Outlook magazine, the then US Ambassador called it “inflammatory”.

“It contains multiple factual inaccuracies, because your reporters never contacted us or offered us a fair opportunity to reply to your allegations. The United States fully accepts responsibility for the stewardship of leased historic properties. We have agreed to protect and maintain the Paigah Palace —and to return it in five years in its restored condition. Our lease agreement also specifies that we will return the palace grounds adorned with twice the number of plants and trees present when we began our tenancy. Moreover, the cutting of trees outside the palace walls, it was done by the city corporation - not for or at the request of the consulate. I want to reassure readers that the US Mission respects India 's local customs and traditions,” he said.

To get to the truth, an RTI activist Rakesh Kumar Dubbudu filed an application with the Forest Department, which confirmed that the felling was done upon the express request of the US Consulate.

Reply

The reply he received recently said:

“The United States Consulate has given representation for felling of trees in Paigah Palace to the Deputy Collector and Tahsildar, Balanagar Mandal, Ranga Reddy district. The Deputy Collector and Tahsildar, Balanagar mandal, Ranga Reddy district, has requested this office (Forest) for according permission for felling of trees in Paigah Palace vide ref No B/14040/2007, dated 7.1.2008”

Based on the representation given by the US Consulate, the department granted permission to cut a total of 62 trees that included Gulmohar, Tamarind, Neem, Milling tone, Royal Palm, Ashoka, he was informed.

Use RTI !!

US Consulate and the Lie !!!

2010-03-23T23:36:00.003+05:30

The US consulate has setup temporary office in “Paigah Palace” in Hyderabad. There were reports in the press that very old trees were being felled upon the request from US consulate authorities. This OUTLOOK article also talks of the same.

Both the Consulate authorities and David C. Mulford (the then US Ambassador) vehemently denied having made any such request to fell trees inside and outside the palace. David C. Mulford (the then US Ambassador) replied in the outlook article saying, “

“The Paigah Palace Whodunnit
Your article Timber! Timber! (May 26) on trees being cut in the Paigah Palace compound in Hyderabad ahead of the US opening its consulate there is inflammatory. It contains multiple factual inaccuracies, because your reporters never contacted us or offered us a fair opportunity to reply to your allegations. The United States fully accepts responsibility for the stewardship of leased historic properties. We have agreed to protect and maintain the Paigah Palace—and to return it in five years in its restored condition. Our lease agreement also specifies that we will return the palace grounds adorned with twice the number of plants and trees present when we began our tenancy. Moreover, the cutting of trees outside the palace walls, it was done by the city corporation—not for or at the request of the consulate. I want to reassure Outlook readers that the US Mission respects India’s local customs and traditions.”

To know the truth, i filed an RTI with the Forest Department and the forest department said the felling was done upon the request of the US Consulate. The reply said, “The US Consulate has given representation for felling of trees in paigah palace to the Dy.collector and tahsildar, Balanagar Mandal, RR dist. the Dy.collector and tahsildar, Balanagar Mandal, RR dist has requested this office for according permission for felling of trees in paigah palace vide ref No B/14040/2007, dated 7.1.2008”

Permission was given to cut a total of 62 trees based on the representation given by the US Consulate.

The US Consulate has to now tell if the Forest Department is lying. Why does US have different standards? I can only imagine how much of news it could have made if this happened somewhere on US soil.

Use RTI and you can nail a lot of lies like these.

Use RTI !!!

Edit Page article in Eenadu on RTI !!

2010-03-16T21:47:00.003+05:30

Finally the article was published on 14th March, 2010.

This article was originally written by me and Umesh. Due to their editorial policy, they published only one name.

Use RTI !!

Free Advices are always Dangerous !!!

2010-02-23T18:17:00.003+05:30

Had the CIC Division Bench hearing of the IIM - Online CAT- Prometric deal today. Decision is reserved and will probably be out in 2-3 days. But i heard the funniest argument ever made from Mr Satish Deodhar (Convenor - CAT 2010).

Mr Deodhar says, "Rakesh Dubbudu" has given his address as Oracle India. So it is possible that he is asking on behalf of Oracle. So giving out this information may favour companies like Oracle and Pearson etc. The wonderful argument is made only now, 3 months after the hearing process started. It is possible that some INTELLIGENT brain might have given him a free advice about raising this issue so that the main issue can be side tracked. Mr Deodhar seems to have gladly accepted it. What is so funny about this? Let me explain,

1. My application clearly states in the very first paragraph that "This application is in my personal capacity of a citizen of India". (Snapshot of the application is below)
2. It is also clearly written in my application that the oracle address is only for COMMUNICATION.

Let us look at the ABCs of RTI act

Companies or organizations cannot file an RTI. Only individuals who are citizens of India can file an RTI application.
Sec 6(2) of the act says "An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him”

How is it that Mr Deodhar missed these basics? Not sure, but its time he read the RTI act in detail, specially Sec 6, Sec 10(1) etc.
Free advices are always dangerous. Follow them if you want to, but only with caution!!

Now that i am no more with Oracle, will he give me the information now? But am wondering, if i give my home address this time, he might say am working for my dad and giving out information may favour my dad !!!

Use RTI !!!

సమాచార హక్కు చట్టం – కిం కర్తవ్యం

2010-02-16T21:46:00.004+05:30

ఈ వ్యాసం ఒక వార్త పత్రికలో ప్రచురణ కోసం రాయబడినది. ప్రచిరతమౌతుందో లేదో :-) అచ్చు తప్పులు ఉంటె మన్నించండి.

This article is written for publishing in a Telugu Newspaper. Not sure if it will see the light of the day :)

వ్యాసకర్తలు: ఉమేష్ వర్మ, రాకేష్ రెడ్డి (సమాచార హక్కు ప్రచార ఐక్య వేదిక)

(ఈ వ్యాసంలో పేర్కొన్న గణాంకాలు, విషయాలు సమాచార హక్కు ఉపయోగించి సేకరించడం జరిగింది.)

సమాచార హక్కు చట్టం వచ్చి నాలుగు సంవత్సరాలు దాటిన సందర్భంగా మన రాష్ట్రంలో ఈ ప్రజల చ(చు)ట్టం అమలు ఏ విధంగా ఉన్నది మరియు ఇబ్బందులు ఎక్కడ ఏర్పడుతున్నాయి అనే అంశాల పై సమీక్ష చేసే ప్రయత్నమే ఈ వ్యాసం.

సమాచార హక్కు చట్టం ప్రభుత్వంలో వ్యవస్థాగతమైన అవినీతిని రూపుమాపే చట్టంగా, జవాబుదారీ తనాన్ని పెంచే చట్టంగా, ప్రజలకు పట్టం కట్టే చట్టంగా – ఇలా ఎన్నో విధాలుగా ఎందరో శ్లాఘించారు. ప్రభుత్వ పనితీరులో మరియు పథకాలు అమలులో పారదర్శకత మరియు జవాబుదారితనం దీనికి పట్టుకొమ్మలు. మరి ఇటువంటి చట్టం నిజంగా తన రూపకర్తలు ఆశించినట్లుగా పని చేస్తోందా అనేది నిశితంగా గమనించినపుడు కొన్ని అద్భుతాలు, మరెన్నో నిరాశజనకమైన విషయాలు కనబడతాయి.

కమిషన్ల పాత్ర – నియామకం

ఈ చట్ట అమలుకై ఏర్పడిన వ్యవస్థలో కమీషన్ల పాత్ర చాలా ప్రధానమైనది. వీటికి సంస్థాగతంగా కోర్టులతో సమానంగా అధికారాలు ఇవ్వబడ్డాయి. కోర్టుల మాదిరిగానే వీటికి స్వతంత్ర ప్రతిపత్తిని ఇవ్వడం జరిగింది. కమిషనర్లకు ఎలక్షన్ కమీషనర్ల హోదా ఇచ్చి వారితో సమానమైన జీతబత్యాలు ఇవ్వడం జరుగుతోంది. దీనికి కారణం – సమాచార వెల్లడిలో ఎటువంటి అవరోదాలు కలిగినా వీరి ప్రత్యెక అధికారాలు ఉపయోగించి దరఖాస్తుదారులకు సమాచారాన్ని అందిస్తారని. కాని వీటి పనితీరుపై ఈ మధ్య కాలంలో చాలా అభ్యంతారాలు వెల్లడవుతున్నాయి. కొన్ని సందర్బాలలో వీరి పైనే అవినీతి ఆరోపణలు రావడం గమనార్హం. అప్పీళ్ళ పరిష్కారంలో పెరుగుతున్న జాప్యం, సరైన కారణం లేకుండా సమాచారం నిరాకరించిన, సమాచారం ఇవ్వడంలో జాప్యం చేసిన అధికారులకు జరిమానా విధించకపోవటం, ఒక కమీషనర్ మరియు ఇంకొక కమీషనర్ తీర్పుల మధ్య ఉన్న అపార వ్యత్యాసాలు, సామాన్యులకు తెలియని, అర్ధం కాని నియమాలు – ఇలా ఎన్నో అభ్యంతరాలు కమిషనర్ల పనితీరుకి అద్దం పడుతున్నాయి. స్వతంత్రంగా మెలిగి ప్రజల ప్రాథమిక సమాచార హక్కుని కాపాడాల్సిన కమిషన్లు చాల చోట్ల అధికారులకి వత్తాసు పలకడం విడ్డూరమే.

ఈనాడు ఇవే కాకుండా కమిషన్లకు సంబంధించి కొన్ని మౌలికమైన ప్రశ్నలు ఉత్పన్నమవుతున్నాయి. కమీషనర్ల నిష్పాక్షికత పై, వారి ఎంపిక తీరుపై సందేహాలు వ్యక్తమవుతున్నాయి. ఈ మధ్య జరిగిన కొన్ని సంఘటనలు ఈ అనుమానాలకి బలం చేకూరుస్తున్నాయి. కొన్ని నెలల క్రితం కొంతమంది “స హ” ఉద్యమకారులు ప్రధానమంత్రి కార్యాలయంలో కేంద్ర సమాచార కమీషనర్ల నియామక ప్రక్రియకు సంబంధిచిన ఫైళ్ళను అడిగారు. చాలా ఆశ్చర్యం కలిగిస్తూ ఇందుకు సంబంధి౦చిన సమాచారం ఏదీ తమ వద్ద లేదని జవాబు ఇచ్చారు. చట్టం ప్రకారం ముగ్గురు సభ్యుల నియామక కమిటీకి ప్రధానమంత్రి నేతృత్వం వహిస్తారు. ఇది చాల దిగ్భ్రాంతి కలిగించే విషయం. కేంద్ర ప్రధాన ఎన్నికల కమిషనర్ హోదా కలిగిన స్థాయి పదవికి సంబందించిన నియామక ప్రక్రియ ఎలా జరిగిందో తెలియని పరిస్థితి మన దేశంలో మాత్రమే కనబడుతుందని అనుకుంటున్నాము. ఇది ఎన్నో సందేహాలను లేవనేత్తుతోంది. ఈ మొత్తం ప్రక్రియలో స్వార్థపూరిత ప్రయోజనాలతో నిర్ణయాలు తీసుకోబడ్డాయనే ఆరోపణలకు బలం చేకూరుతోంది. మన రాష్ట్రంలో కూడా ఈ ప్రక్రియపై 2005లొ కొంత వివాదం జరిగింది. దివంగత ముఖ్యమంత్రి రాజశేఖర రెడ్డి తన అంగీకారం లేకుండా కమీశనర్లను ఏకపక్షంగా నియమించారని ఎంపిక కమిటిలో ప్రతిపక్ష నేత హోదాలో సభ్యుడైన చంద్రబాబునాయుడు ఆరోపించారు.

చట్టాన్ని కాపాడాల్సిన సమాచార కమీశనర్ల నియామక ప్రక్రియ పూర్తి అసంబద్ధంగా జరిగిందని ఇదే చట్టాన్ని వాడి ప్రజలు తెలుసుకోవడం ఒక మిశ్రమ స్పందన కలిగిస్తోంది. ఈ చట్టం ముఖ్యమైన ఈ విషయాన్ని బహిర్గాతపరిచింది అన్న సంతోషం, ఒక వైపు, చట్టాన్ని పరిరక్షించే కమీశనర్లను నియమించే ప్రక్రియ పూర్తి లోపభూయిష్టంగా ఉంది అన్న బాధ ఇంకో వైపు.

ఈ మధ్య మాజీ పోలీసు అధికారి కిరణ్ బెడీని కేంద్ర ప్రధాన సమాచార కమిషనరుగా నియమించాలని పెద్ద ఎత్తున డిమాండ్లు . అన్నా వచ్చాయి. అన్న హజారే, అరవింద్ కేజ్రివాల్ లాంటి ఉద్యమకారులు ఆమె అభ్యర్ధిత్వాన్ని బలపరుస్తూ ప్రకటనలు, వినతి పత్రాలు జారీ చేసారు. ఆ డిమాండ్ లో, ఎంపిక ప్రక్రియ పారదర్శకంగా ఉండాలని, పరిశీలించిన వ్యక్తుల వివరాలు బహిర్గత పరచి ప్రజల విన్నపాలు అభ్యంతరాలు ఆహ్వానించి, వాటిని పరిగణలోకి తీసుకోవాలనే అంశం కూడా ఉంది. ఇది ప్రజాస్వామ్య ప్రక్రియలో ఆహ్వానించదగ్గ మార్పు. దీనిని అధికారంలో ఉన్న పెద్దలు మన్నిస్తారని, ఎంపిక ప్రక్రియ అందరికి ఆమోదయోగ్యంగా, పారదర్శకంగా ఉంటుందని ఆశిద్దాము.

మన రాష్ట్ర కమిషన్ తీరు తెన్నులు

మన రాష్ట్ర కమీషన్ పనితీరు విషయానికి వస్తే చేసింది గోరంత చెయ్యాల్సింది కొండంత అన్న చందంగా ఉంది. దాదాపు 62 శాతం అప్పీళ్లను చిన్న చిన్న సాంకేతిక సాకులతో తిరస్కరిస్తున్నారు. జీ.ఓ. 66 లోని నియమ నిబంధనలు సాకుగా చూపెడుతూ అప్పీళ్లను తిరస్కరిస్తున్నారు. సెక్షను 18(1) ప్రకారం కమీషనుకు ఫిర్యాదు చేస్తే వాటిని తిరిగి పంపిస్తున్నారు. ఫిర్యాదుకు అప్పీలుకు మధ్య తేడాను పరిగణలోకి తీసుకోవడంలేదు. ఈ వ్యవహార శైలి వల్ల ప్రజలు ఎన్నో ఇబ్బందులు ఎదుర్కొంటున్నారు. మొదటి అప్పీలు చేయాలని తెలియక నేరుగా కమీషను వద్దకు వచ్చిన వారికి అది తప్పు అని చెప్పడానికి 2-3 నెలల సమయం తీసుకొంటున్నారు. దీనివలన రెండవ అప్పీలు చేసుకొనే అవకాశం కోల్పోతున్నారు. అప్పీలును తిరిగి పంపిస్తూ జరిగిన జాప్యాన్ని పరిగణలోకి తీసోకొని మొదటి అప్పీలు ప్రక్రియను అనుమతీస్తూ ఉత్తర్వులు జారీ చేయటంలేదు. దీనివలన ప్రక్రియ మొత్తం మొదటికి వస్తోంది. ఇది సమాచారం కోరేవారిని తీవ్ర అసంతృప్తికి మరియు నిస్పృహకు గురిచేస్తోంది. ఇక్కడ ఒక ముఖ్యమైన విషయం మనం గమనించాలి. 02-04-2008 రోజున జరిగిన మన రాష్ట్ర కమిషనర్ల సమావేశం లో పైన పేర్కొన్న తరహాలో తిరస్కరించిన అప్పీళ్ల విషయంలో ఒక నిర్ణయం తీసుకొన్నారు. తిరస్కరణ నోటీసు అందిన 7 రోజుల లోపు లోపాలను సవరించి అప్పీలును తిరిగి పంపించిన ఎడల అప్పీలును స్వీకరించడం జరుగుతుంది. కాని దురదృష్టవశాత్తు ఈ సమాచారాన్ని ఇంత వరకు ఈ ఒక్క అప్పీలు దారునకి చెప్పిన దాఖలాలు లేవు. ( ఈ సమాచారం రాష్ట్ర కమీషన్ లో సమాచార హక్కు ఉపయోగించి తెలుసుకోవడం జరిగింది )

కొన్ని చట్ట విరుద్ధమైన మరియు అసంబద్ధమైన తీర్పులు ఇస్తున్నారు. ఒక అప్పీలులో అడిగిన సమాచారం ఇంతకు ముందు ఇంకొకరు అడిగారని, రికార్డు బాగోలేదు కాబట్టి అతనినే అడిగి తీసుకొమ్మని ఆదేశాలు జారీ చేసారు. మరి ఆ పాత వ్యక్తి ఇస్తాడని నమ్మకం ఏమిటి? మరొక కేసులో ప్రజా సమాచార అధికారి ఉత్తముడిగా కనిపిస్తున్నాడని కాబట్టి అతని వాదనను నమ్మవచని పేర్కొన్నారు. పాపం అలా కనిపించని వారి పరిస్థితి ఏమిటో? 4 సంవత్సరాలలో కేవలం 14 పెనాల్టీలు మాత్రమే విధించారు. సమాచారం ఇవ్వనందుకు రెండవ అప్పీలుకు వచ్చినప్పుడు జరిమానా ఎందుకు విదించకూడదో కారణాలు కూరుతూ షోకాజ్ నోటీసు తప్పనిసరిగా జారీ చేయాలని సెక్షను 20 లో స్పష్టంగా పేర్కొనడం జరిగింది. కాని మన కమీషన్ వారు మాత్రం ఎన్ని కేసులలో షోకాజ్ నోటీసు జారి చేశారో మాట్లడుకోకపోవడమే మంచిది. ఇది కేవలం పొరబాటుగా తీసివేయలేము. దీనిని నిర్లక్ష్యం మరియు ప్రభుత్వ అధికార్ల కొమ్ము కాయడంగా లేక చట్ట విరుద్ధమైన చర్యగా మాత్రమే పరిగణించాలి. అప్పీళ్ళతో బాటు జత చేసే రుజువు పత్రాలపై సంతకాలు లేవని, పత్రాలు లేవని అప్పీళ్లను 4 నెలల తరువాత త్రిప్పి పంపిన సందర్భాలు ఎన్నో, ఎన్నెన్నో. ఇవన్నీ చూసిన అప్పీలుదారులు కమీషను కేవలం అధికార్ల తప్పులు కప్పిపుచ్చాదానికేనని భావిస్తున్నారు. ఈ భావనను తొలగించాల్సిన అవసరం ఎంతైనా ఉంది.

ఇదే కాకుండా మన కమీషనర్లు అపీల్లను పరిష్కరించడంలో చాలా జాప్యం చేస్తున్నారు. “సి జె కరీరా” అనే “స హ” ఉద్యమకారుడు ఒక విశ్లేషణలో చాలా నిర్ఘాంత పరిచే విషయాలు వెలికి తీసారు. వారు చేసిన విశ్లేషణ ప్రకారం సగటున ఒక్క అప్పీలు పరిష్కరించడానికి ప్రభుత్వానికయ్యే అయ్యే ఖర్చు రూ. 40,683 గా ఉంది. కమిషనరు దిలీప్ రెడ్డి విషయంలో అత్యదికముగా రూ. 56,516 గా ఉంది. దీనికి ప్రధాన కారణం వారు అప్పీళ్లను సాగతీస్తూ పోవడమే. అప్పీలు దారుడు హాజారు కాని సమయంలో తీర్పులు ప్రకటిస్తున్న కమీషనర్లు ప్రజా సమాచార అధికారి రాని పక్షంలో మటుకు కేసు వాయిదా వేస్తున్నారు. ఇది కేవలం పక్షపాత ధోరణి. కొన్ని కేసులు 7 నుంచి 10 వాయిదాలు వరకు సాగుతున్నాయి. దీని వలన దూర ప్రాంత ప్రజలకు ఎన్నో ఇబ్బందులు, ఖర్చులు జరుగుతున్నాయి. ఒక రోజులో కేవలం ఒక కమీషనరు మాత్రమే హియరింగ్ చేపడుతున్నారు. కారణం అడిగితే స్థలాభావం - అప్పీలుదార్లు, అధికార్లు కూర్చోవడానికి స్థలం లేదు - అని చెబుతున్నారు. ఇది ఇలాగే కొనసాగితే కోర్టుల లాగ కమీషనుపై కూడా సామాన్యులకు నమ్మకం సడలిపోతుంది. ఇది చట్ట స్ఫూర్తికి పూర్తి విరుద్ధం అవుతుంది. మేము సమాచార హక్కు ప్రచార ఐక్య వేదిక అను కూటమి ద్వారా పలు మార్లు కమీషను వారికి ఎన్నో సూచనలు చేయడం జరిగింది. ఈ సూచనల ద్వారా ఖర్చు లేకుండా అప్పీలుదార్ల సమస్యలు తీరుతాయి. మరియు జాప్యం కూడా తగ్గించవచ్చు. కానీ వీటిని పెడచెవిన పెట్టారు. మర్మం పెరుమాళ్ళకెరుక.

మనముందున్న ఒక పెద్ద సమస్య కమిషన్ వారి పారదర్శకతను, జవాబుదారీతనాన్ని పెంచడం. దీనికి ప్రధాన అవరోధకాలు వారి నిర్ణయాలే. ప్రతి ఉత్తర్వులొనూ అప్పీలును ఎందుకు ఆమోదిస్తున్నారో లేక తిరస్కరిస్తున్నారో విస్పష్టంగా చెప్పాలి. సివిల్ కోర్టు అధికారాలు ఉన్నాయని చెప్పోకొనే సంస్థ కోర్టు వారి ఉత్తర్వులను ఒకసారి గమనిస్తే తమ లోటుపాట్లు అర్ధం అవుతాయి. ఉత్తర్వులో స్పీకింగ్ ఆర్డర్ (కమీశనరు తీర్పు వెలువరిస్తూ ఏమి మాట్లాడతారో, ఆ విధముగా అన్నమాట) ఉండాలి కాని అలా జరగటం లేదు. 3-4 వాక్యాల పొడి ఉత్తరువుతో సరిపెడుతున్నారు. ఇది చట్ట విరుద్ధం. కొందరు కమీషనర్లు ఉద్యమకారులపై వ్యక్తిగత దూషణలకు దిగుతున్నారు. వారికి సమాచారం రాకుండా చేస్తున్నారు. ఇది చాలా హేయమైన చర్య. ఈ మధ్య కాలంలో కమీషనులో ఒక ఆందోళన కలిగించే నిర్ణయం తీసుకోబడింది. దీని ప్రకారం తప్పులు ఉన్న దరఖాస్తులను నిరాకరించే అధికారం కమీషనులో క్రింది స్థాయి అధికారులకు ఇవ్వబడినది. దీని పర్యవసానముగా ఎన్నో అప్పీళ్ళు కమీశానర్లను చేరకుండా తిరస్కరించబడుతున్నాయి. ఇటువంటి అప్పీళ్ళ రికార్డు కూడా సక్రమంగా చెయ్యటంలేదు. ఇది క్రింది స్థాయి అధికార్లు ప్రజా సమాచార అధికారితో కుమ్మక్కయ్యే అవకాశాన్ని కల్పిస్తోంది. దీనిని తక్షణమే రద్దు చేయాల్సిన అవసరం ఎంతైనా ఉంది. ( ఈ సమాచారం రాష్ట్ర కమీషన్ లో సమాచార హక్కు ఉపయోగించి తెలుసుకోవడం జరిగింది )

ప్రభుత్వ భాద్యత

ప్రభుత్వం తన భాద్యతను పూర్తిగా విస్మరిస్తోంది. చట్టంలోని సెక్షను 26 లో స్పష్టంగా ఈ చట్టం యొక్క ప్రచార భాద్యత ప్రభుత్వం పై మోపబడింది. కాని ప్రభుత్వం ప్రజలలో అవగాహన కల్పించుటకు కొరకు నాలుగు సం.లలో కేవలం రూ. ఏడు లక్షల పన్నెండు వేలు మాత్రమే ఖర్చు పెట్టింది. ఇదే సమయంలో ప్రభుత్వం చేపడుతున్న వివిధ కార్యక్రమాల ప్రచారానికి మాత్రం రూ 500 కోట్లకు పైగానే ఖర్చు పెట్టింది. దీన్ని బట్టి మన రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వానికి ఈ చట్టం పట్ల ఉన్న నిబద్దత అర్థం అవుతుంది. ఇది నిరాశ కలిగించే తిరోగమన మార్గము. ప్రైస్ వాటర్ కుపెర్స్ (PWC) వారు కేంద్ర ప్రభుత్వానికి చేసిన సర్వే లో కొన్ని దిగ్బ్రాంతి కలిగించే విషయాలు చెప్పారు. 100 కి కేవలం 23 మందికి మాత్రమే ఈ చట్టం పై అవగాహన ఉంది అని తేల్చారు. NCPRI – RAAG సర్వేలో ఇదే కేవలం 40% మాత్రమే అని తేల్చారు. ఏంతో మంది సామాన్య ప్రజలు దీనిని తమ హక్కుల కోరకై, ప్రభుత్వ పథకాల అమలుకై వాడుకొంటున్నారు. ఎన్నో కుంభకోణాలు ఈ చట్టం వాడుకతో బయట పడ్డాయి. ఈ కుంభకోణాలు బయటపడటం ద్వారా ప్రభుత్వానికి ఆదా అయిన సొమ్మే కొన్ని కోట్లలో ఉంటుంది. మరి అవగాహనకు ప్రభుత్వ కేటాయింపులు ఎక్కువ చేస్తే ఇంకా ఎంతో ప్రజా ధనము ఆదా అయ్యే అవకాశాలు ఉన్నా చేయకపోవడమ చూస్తే అధికారంలో ఉన్న పెద్దలు తమ తప్పిద్దాలను బయటపెట్టే అన్ని మార్గాలను మూసే ప్రయత్నంలో చాలామేరకు క్రుతక్రుత్యులయ్యారనే భావన వస్తోంది. వివిధ స్థాయిల్లో ఉన్న ప్రభుత్వ యంత్రాంగానికి రికార్డులు క్రోడికరించడానికి తగిన నిధులు ఇవ్వడం లో ప్రభుత్వ అనాసక్తి చట్టం పట్ల వారికున్న నిబద్దతను తెలియజేస్తుంది. ( పైన పేర్కొన్న సమాచారం “సమాచార హక్కు” ఉపయోగించి తెలుసుకోవడం జరిగింది )

ప్రజలు ఏమి చేయాలి?

ఈ చట్టాన్ని సామాన్య ప్రజలు పోరాడి సాదించుకొన్నారు. దీనిని కాపాడాల్సిన బాధ్యత కూడా మన పైన ఉన్నది.

1. చట్టం గురుంచి మీకు తెలిసిన వారికి అవగాహన కల్పించండి.

2. ప్రభుత్వ పనులకి, సేవలకి సంబందించిన నియమాలు, గడువులు ఈ చట్టం ఉపయోగించి తెలుసుకోండి.

3. అప్పీలు హియరింగ్ సమయం లో షోకాజ్ నోటీసు జారి చేయమని, జరిమానా విదించమని పట్టుబట్టండి. అందుకు గల కారణాలను జడ్జిమెంట్ లో కచ్చితంగా పేర్కొనాలని కోరండి.

4. లంచావతారుల్ని ప్రోత్సహించకండి.

పైన సూచించిన విషయాలు ఆచరిస్తే చట్టాన్ని కాపాడుకోవటంలో ఎంతో కొంత సఫలీకృతం అవుతాము.

Use RTI

సమాచార హక్కుని ఉపయోగించండి.

Hindu article on the IAS/IPS Officers IPRs - RTI

2009-10-29T08:54:00.001+05:30

IAS/IPS officers’ assets: RTI plea rejected

K. Venkateshwarlu

Senior secretaries to discuss issue in New Delhi on Nov. 3

Unwarranted invasion of privacy, says State GAD
‘Rejection of RTI application is surprising’

HYDERABAD: Are IAS, IPS and IFS officers duty-bound to disclose their assets that could be kept in public domain much like the MP/MLAs earlier, and now the Supreme Court judges?

Even as a crucial meeting of senior secretaries scheduled on November 3 in New Delhi mulls over the subject, the State bureaucrats wait with bated breath for the outcome as not long ago, an RTI applicant’s plea on their asset reports was rejected by the State General Administration Department calling it among other things “unwarranted invasion of privacy”.

In the application filed under RTI Act, O.B. Debara of the United Forum of the RTI campaign, sought to know whether all India service officers of the State cadre who are members of Adarshnagar and Kohinoor Mutually Aided Co-operative Housing Societies filed their Immovable Property Reports (IPRs) during 2006-08, as per Rule 16 of All India Services (Conduct) Rules 1968.

He sought copies of their IPRs.

He also wanted to know action taken against those who had not complied with and whether they sought permission to buy land for housing on their names. But the Public Information Officer of the GAD rejected the application invoking Section 8 (1)(j) of RTI Act. The PIO stated that the applicant has not indicated any public interest to justify such disclosure and that the officers have objected to sharing of the information.

‘Violation’

“This is in complete violation of spirit of the RTI Act and amounts to shielding of defaulters by their brethren,” said D. Rakesh Kumar of the Forum. They have now gone in appeal to State Information Commission (No. 2485/2009). “The rejection is surprising, as members of the two pillars of democracy -- judiciary and legislature -- could disclose their assets, why the third pillar -- the executive -- should resist it?” he asks.

After all, as public servants they were not above public scrutiny and cannot invoke right to privacy on issues of public concern. The objective behind making them file IPRs every year was to make them accountable and track their assets.

Similar cases

The Central Information Commission (CIC) and the Gujarat Information Commission in similar cases have categorically stated that IPRs of the All India Service officers have to be in the public domain and cannot be exempted under Section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act.

The Supreme Court too had held that “when there is a competition between the Right to Privacy and the Right to Information of the citizens, the former right has to subordinate the latter as it serves larger public interest”.

Use RTI !!!

Details of "United Forum for RTI Campaign - AP's" Press Meet Held on 20th October 2009

2009-10-21T12:14:00.007+05:30

We held a press meet yesterday to let the people know as to how the IAS officers were refusing to provide information on the Immovable Property Reports that they submit to the Govt every year.

Check the following,

1. Press Note
2. CIC Decision in a similar issue
3. Supreme Court Judgement clarifying
"Right to Privacy Vs Right to Information"
4. Gujarat Information Commission Decision in a similar case.

Below are the news stories in the Local Press today,

Surya Daily

Sakshi

Vaartha

Andhra Bhoomi

Andhra Jyothy

Use RTI !!

Article in the Hindu about IIMs refusing to give information !!

2009-10-16T08:25:00.008+05:30

IIM holds back information to RTI applicant

Use RTI !!!

IIMs and their best kept SECRET !!!

2009-10-10T22:27:00.011+05:30

Note: Open the link and then download the document from Sky Drive for all documents.

The supreme court and the CJI have been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. They have been vehemently arguing that they are not covered under RTI. The IIMs are following suit. IIMA replied to my RTI application.

In their reply, they said the following;
1. The contract and other documents cannot be given since they are barred under Sec 8(1)(d) of the RTI act.
2. The HRD ministry is not funding this.
3. 14 companies applied for the contract.

Sec 8(1)(d) of the RTI act says,

"(d) information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information"

The reply cannot be more absurd. I immediately filed a complaint with the Central Information Commission and also filed a 1st Appeal. Important portions of the complaint are as follows,

"This complaint is as per Sec 18(b), 18(e) and 18(f) of the RTI act.

I filed an RTI application with CPIO of IIMA on 5th September 2009 which was received by the CPIO of IIMA on 9th September 2009. The information requested was regarding the awarding of contract of Ms Prometric for Conducting Online CAT and relevant tender copies submitted by all bidders. The CPIO of IIMA refused to provide information to points 3,4,5 and 6 of my application citing Sec 8(1)(d) of the RTI act. I would like to bring to your notice that this is a blatant violation of the RTI act and is completely contrary to the norms set by the Honourable CIC and the Jharkhand High court in these cases. Tender documents are public documents once the tender is awarded. They do not hamper the competitiveness since the process is over. They actually provide citizens information to evaluate the systems of governance and how they decide on such contracts. The Jharkhand High court Bench in its judgement on 8th August 2007 (a copy of the judgement is attached to this complaint) has categorically stated that tender documents are no more a secret once the tender is finalised. They have to be in the public domain and Sec 8(1)(d) does not apply.

Even in an earlier order of the CIC - Appeal No CIC/WB/C/2006/00176 (a copy is attched) the commission has stated the following,

“A contract with a public authority cannot be categorised as “confidential” after completion. Even if some confidentiality is involved, public interest in a matter of the nature of the present case will warrant disclosure. Had it been a case of quotations, bid or tender or any other information prior to conclusion of a contract, it could be categorized as trade secret, but once concluded the confidentiality of such transactions cannot be claimed. Any public authority claiming exemption must be put to strictest proof that the exemption is justifiably claimed.”

Even the Jharkhand High court bench Judgement says the same thing,

“Section 8(1)(d) is relevant so far instant case is concerned which, inter alia, provides that the authority may refuse to give information relating to commercial confidence, trade secret or intellectual property, disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, unless the competent authority is satisfied that larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information. The question, therefore, that falls for consideration is as to whether disclosure of various documents submitted by the bidders is a trade secret or commercial confidence or intellectual property. Prima facie, we are of
the view that once a decision is taken in the matter of grant of tender, there is no justification to keep it secret. People have a right to know the basis on which the decision has been taken. If tenders are invited by the public authority and on the basis of tender documents, the eligibility of a tender or a bidder is decided, then those tender documents cannot be kept secret, that too, after the tender is decided and work order is issued on the ground that it will amount to disclosure of trade secret or commercial confidence. If the
authorities of Government refuse to disclose the document, the very purpose of the Act will be frustrated. Moreover, disclosure of information, sought for by the petitioner, cannot and shall not be a trade secret or commercial confidence; rather disclosure of such information shall be in public interest, inasmuch as it will show the transparency in the activities of the Government.”

This is a contract involving huge amount of Public Money (to the tune of 40 Million USD as per news reports). The IIMs being the best management institutes of the country cannot hide in the veil of secrecy. This does not augur well for the country or its elite institutions and will definitely have an effect on the kind of students it trains that will take this country into the next generation."

There are two interesting things to note here,

1. Its common sense that tender and bid documents are public documents once the tender is finalised. Then why did the IIM make this basic mistake? Is there pressure from somewhere?

2. If the HRD ministry is not funding this, then where are IIMs getting money from? Specially when the number of CAT Takers has come down to nearly 2 Lakhs. The application fees for CAT gives the IIMs only 28-30 crores. Then where is the rest of the money coming from?

These are questions the IIMs need to answer. Its upto them if they want to hide in the veil of secrecy specially when they say they are the best.

They may be the best in the business, but their "Best kept Secret" will not hide for long. There is a constitution in this country and they will have to fall in line sooner than later.

Use RTI !!!

Article in today's Deccan Chronicle..

2009-09-28T11:34:00.002+05:30

An article in today's Deccan Chronicle..

Use RTI !!!!

IIMs - Online CAT - RTI

2009-09-10T16:31:00.009+05:30

Update 2: After a lot of complaints and criticism from students, IIMs have decided to allow editing of personal profile and application data. This common sense should have prevailed in the first place. Lot of students have bought more then one voucher just because there was no scope for editing.

Correcting your Application Data

Candidates will be allowed to edit their Personal Profile and their Application Data in about a week's time leading upto the end of the registration window. The exact date and instructions shall be announced in a few days from now.

Please logon to www.catiim.in for updates.

Update 1: A friend has just sent this article about Prometric outsourcing the job of providing test centers to NIIT at an estimated cost of 50-55 crores. ( Thanks Sai Chand for pointing to this article)

This looks intersting. Then all the more important to know how these 200 crores was arrived at. Is prometric just developing content and software and getting 150 crores?? Think of it.

CAT is going online from this year. Prometric has bagged the contract of conducting this test at an unprecedented scale. The contract is worth $40 million dollar ( nearly 200 crore rupees). The contract details were never made public and it was never clear what would prometric use the money for. The press statement from Prometric says the following,

"In assuming responsibility for all aspects of the CAT program, including item authoring, test development, test administration and scoring and reporting services, Prometric will add resources, including dedicated test development and support staff, in India."

So i thought that they would add new test centers with brand new infrastructure. 200 crores is huge and it is only natural that a major chunk would be spent on infrastructure. I filed an RTI with IIMA to know what all the contract entails and a lot of other details regarding the tendering process. I am waiting for the reply.

In the meantime, the test sites were declared. To the shock of all students, out of 8 centers in Hyderabad, 7 of them are away from the city at an average distance of 25kms from the city. One center is almost 40kms away from the city. The students are asked to report to the center 2 hours prior to the test time which means students have to be at the centers by 8am. Hyderabad is the only center for Andhra Pradesh and how will students from other parts of the state come to hyderabad and reach the test centers which are not very accessible and there are no proper public transport facilities. It beats my mind as to how did they decide on these centers and did they even consider student convenience as a parameter. Indian Express carried an article on this today.

The registration website of CAT 2009 has also come under severe criticism from students. Lot of students have bought the vouchers twice spending double the amount only because the student profile is uneditable. It just looks like a money making exercise. How can a 200 crore contract be like this? and whose money is it? Some of the questions that come to my mind are...

1. What is prometric using this money for?
2. Why did they select test centers that are so far away?
3. Did they take into consideration the student convenience?
3. Since they are creating any new infrastructure, where is all this money going?
4. How transparent is this deal?
5. How can a student profile be non editable?

All these questions need answers. Hopefully the RTI reply would provide some answers.

IIMs may be among the best institutes in the country, but its high time they come clear on this deal and make everything public. After all, its the taxpayer's money...

Use RTI !!!

Osmania Government Hospital and RTI !!

2009-07-03T14:10:00.006+05:30

Osmania General Hospital is the biggest government hospital in Andhra Pradesh. It caters to an estimated number of 8000 patients per day on an average. Unfortunately the conditions in the hospital are appalling to say the least. Large Majority of the patients who come to the hospital are poor and those who cannot afford the luxury of going to a private hospital.

Suresh Deepala is a young law student volunteering with AID India. He has been volunteering at the hospital with some of this friends trying to help destitutes get admission in the hospital and then rehabilitating them. He has been after me asking me how do we better the functioning of the system and make sure the conditions change at the hospital. I suggested we can start with RTI. We filed an RTI on some basic details relating to the hospital. The application was a bit lengthy with 29 questions in all. The application was a result of many hours of reading the functionary manuals by suresh. I probably rejected the questions he framed 3-4 times before finalizing on this one. We had a good time understanding this and my constant rejections did not deter suresh from reframing them and he is now framing questions on other issues very well :)

This is what he had to say about his plans and about the RTI in a mail,

" I filed this RTI with the help of Rakesh of Bhumi. I had been working on the sick people lying around the premises of the hospital. After seeing the conditions and reality as to how the Hospital is reaching the poor and indigenous patients who come to hospital from all over the state with the hope of cure to the their ailment, an interest developed in me to work towards the hospital systematization. I didnt have any idea as to which way to go ahead. That is how, I met Rakesh who said RTI could be the tool to show us the way up ahead to work on the hospital's systematization and to make the hospital liable for the issues in the Hospital. He also told me to get to know the role, responsibility and the functionaries of the everybody employed in the Hospital. That is how, I got the functionary manual of all the staff of the Hospital. After going through that, we decided to start filing the RTI's on the various issues of the hospital and that is how we filed this first RTI in Both Osmania and Gandhi Hospitals. We received the reply from the Osmania hospital and are waiting for the Gandhi Hospital's reply.

Our intent of sharing this RTI with u all is to show you how the Hospital management has escaped from furnishing the genuine hospital information and to tell u all to go to Hospital whenever possible and see weather the Hospital stands to what it replied in the RTI. We also welcome anyone who is interested work on the issue.

Cheers,
D. Suresh kumar, AID India"

Frankly speaking, I did not expect a response from the hospital. To my surprise, they did reply and even co-ordinated between different departments to provide the information. But the disappointing aspect of this whole thing is the way they answered the questions. Even then, the RTI has given some interesting and useful information. We are discussing the future plan. I will keep the blog updated with the plans. For now, please look at the application and the reply.

Download the RTI application and the Reply from here,

(Open the link and then download the document from Sky Drive)

RTI Application to Osmania Hospital

Reply to the RTI application by the hospital administration

RTI and the Reply in Question - Answer Format

Use RTI !!!

JAI HIND

One more RTI Success Story. The revolution lives on...

2009-06-04T13:34:00.007+05:30

The government is least interested in RTI and its promotion. But this has not deterred activists. Many of us have been working to popularize the act. I keep doing workshops and did one on 22nd sep 2008 in Hyderabad Infosys Campus. Since then, infoscions have been writing to me asking if they can use RTI for their issues. One such issue was with Siva who had a tough time getting his income tax refund. Here is a excerpt from a mail he wrote me a couple days ago,

Hi Rakesh,

I am very glad to inform you that at last I have received the IT refund cheque from Gurgaon, Haryana. Your help has been exemplary in this regard, for which I am always grateful. I will send across the scanned copies of the letters I have received from them.

Thank you very much for your continuous help on this.

An excerpt from a mail he wrote to his colleagues at Infosys,

Hi All,

It’s my pleasure to inform you all that I have got my Income Tax refund which has been pending for past 3 years. This would not have been possible without the help of RTI . I have gotten exemplary help from Murali (copied on the mail) and Rakesh (rakesh.dubbudu@gmail.com; external consultant, who conducted an RTI session in Infosys campus, Hyderabad). Rakesh has been constantly helping me out clarifying all my queries and sharing the relevant templates that can be used.

Background: I have filed my IT returns in 2006 (for the year 2005-06) in Gurgaon, Haryana thru an agent. Despite of my continuous follow-ups with the agent, nothing has happened. After a year of follow-up with him I have given up. Finally when I came to know about the RTI from Murali, I have decided to put this in action. However, it took me three months time to finally send the RTI letter to the Income Tax office, Gurgaon. Natural laziness :)

- I have sent the first RTI letter to IT Office, Gurgaon on 3rd of March 2009.

- I got an acknowledgement from them after three weeks informing that they have opened a case for this with a copy to the Appellate authority. Appellate authority is the escalation point.

- I waited till May 3rd week to see any response from them. After seeking the advice from Rakesh, I have sent the escalation letter to the Appellate authority on May 23rd 2009.

- I have gotten the refund cheque on 1st June 2009 in reply to the escalation :)

- RTI Zindabad!

Procedure:

1. Prepare the RTI letter with your information. Take a photocopy of it after you sign it (this is for your records).

2. Purchase an IPO (Indian Postal Order) for 10/-. It should be on the name of "Accounts Officer" of the Local Income Tax office where you will be submitting the application. Keep a photocopy of the IPO too for your records. DD also will do.

3. Send the original RTI letter along with the original IPO, and photocopy of the IT returns thru registered post with acknowledgement. (keep the regd. post receipt issued by the post office for your records). Speed post also will do. Please do not use couriers service.

4. It should be sent to CENTRAL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, Income Tax Office, { Address of Income tax office}

5. You should receive an acknowledgement informing that they have opened a case for this. This should also contain the information on who is the Appellate authority.

6. As I understand, ideally we should be hearing from them within 30 days after we send it, however, you can wait for 30 days from the date you get the acknowledgement.

7. After 30 days, if you do not hear from them, please use the escalation channel.

8. What I have done here is, I have prepared the letter using the template (RTI-Income Tax-1st appeal template.doc) and sent it thru regd. post to the Appellate authority along with the photocopies of the RTI letter that I have sent initially, photocopy of the IT returns, photocopy of the acknowledgement that I have received in the step 5 above.

9. With this you should all be set and get the refund."

Letter Received from the Income Tax department

Just goes to show what all you can achieve using RTI. You just need to have some patience and faith. System will change, only when we unite and start questioning.

IT refund was pending for more than 3 years. What all siva did was to use a piece of paper to write an RTI application and after 2 months, he received the refund along with the interest.

One more RTI Success story. The revolution lives on....

Use RTI !!!! It can do wonders and can make the Government work the way it is supposed to work.

JAI HIND

Publicity Expenditure of AP Govt !!

2009-04-24T11:33:00.006+05:30

I filed an RTI in January 2009 to get the data for Year 2008 and am yet to get the complete information.

I filed an RTI earlier for data from april 2004 to september 2007. The details are in this blogpost

The Hindu carried an article on that data.

The expenditure then was 109 crores in total. Electronic media share was 6.8 crores (6% of total).

So going by those estimates, the publicity spending expenditure in the last 1.5 years might touch 290 crores or so (17 crores for electronic which is again 6%)

Here is the TOI article on the publicity expenditure of AP Govt (Electronic Media). Information on Print Media and Outdoor Publicity is pending.

Use RTI !!!

The Tainted Netas from AP - Phase1 of Loksabha Elections..

2009-04-11T17:28:00.009+05:30

We released the data for phase1 of Loksabha elections from AP for the 22 constituencies. 315 candidates are contesting in the elections. This is the gist of the analysis,

34 Candidates face criminal charges (Nearly 11%)
64 Candidates own assets worth more than a Crore rupees ( 20%)
34% of the candidates are below 40 years.
62 Candidates have not specified their educational qualification.
TDP Candidate from Khammam Mr Nama Nageswara Rao heads the list of richest contestants in phase1 with a net worth close to 174 crores.
82% of the Candidates from the congress party own assets worth more than a crore rupees.
5 out of 11 candidates from TDP face criminal charges. (Nearly 45 %)
More than 50% of the affidavits do not reveal the complete information that a voter needs to know about their candidates.
Close to 50% of the candidates are graduates or higher.
We have also found that some candidates have flouted the existing law of the land like the ‘Land Ceiling Act’.

Download the data and analysis here,

(Open the link and then download the document from Sky Drive)

1. The Press Release

2. Data Analysis

3. Details of Criminal charges

Go through the following sites,

www.apelectionwatch.org

www.nationalelectionwatch.org

www.myneta.info

Press Coverage

Times of India

The Hindu

Deccan Chronicle

Mail Today

Indian Express

Eenadu

Andhra Jyothy

Sakshi

There is more to follow in the coming da

60 tainted MLAs !!!! Welcome to Andhra Pradesh...

2009-03-23T20:35:00.004+05:30

Whenever we talk of criminals & goondas in politics, Bihar and UP come to our mind. Now Andhra Pradesh is competing and trying hard to bag the coveted honour of being the state with most elected representatives with criminal charges against them.

As part of National Election Watch, in Andhra Pradesh, we released the list of sitting MLAs and MPs from Andhra Pradesh with criminal charges today.

(National Election Watch, AP is partnered and supported in the state by a very large number of NGOs and citizen groups in almost all districts.)

Mr Padmanabha Reddy, an RTI activist obtained information from all districts about the pending cases on sitting MLAs,MPs, MLCs and their kith & kin. It took him about 3 months and lot of effort to get this information.

As part of National Election Watch AP, me and Umesh digitized the data and did a thorough analysis of the same.
The data we released today is collected using the RTI act from all the districts. The status of these cases are as onDec 2008/Jan 2009 in most cases.

60 MLAs out of the 294 have pending criminal charges and 10 out of the 60 MPs (loksabha+rajyasabha) have pending criminal cases.

The congress released its list day before in which they gave tickets to 135 sitting MLAs. Out of this, 20 have pending criminal charges( this comes to a near 15% candidates with criminal charges). Out of the 25 sitting MPs who have been tickets, 3 of them have pending criminal charges.

The crimes are varied. Download the complete details here

(Open the link and then download the document from Sky Drive)

Press Coverage of the press conference,

Times of India

Indian Express

The Hindu

Siasat

Deccan Chronicle

Eenadu

Andhra Jyothy

Vaartha

Prajashakti

Munsif

Welcome to Andhra Pradesh and its politics !!!!

Use RTI. It can dig out any information !!!

Karimnagar Meeting of RTI Activists

2009-03-23T20:23:00.004+05:30

Download the article from here

(Open the link and then download the document from Sky Drive)

Use RTI !!

Rakesh will do it

TOI Story on the RTI reply given by Ministry of Home Affairs.

On RTI query, Centre says it has no records on Srikrishna panel

‘With No Official Status, The Committee Recommendations Can Only Be Advisory’

Nikhila Henry | TNN

NDTV Story on the Farmer Suicide Numbers.

The Hindu Article on the Farmer Suicide Numbers.

MHA trying all means to hide information on Telangana !!!

Farmer Suicides in AP – The Shocking numbers !!!

TOI Story on the Shamshabad Airport and the applicability of RTI !!

RTI activists to move HC for vacating stay on airport info

“RGIA-Hyderabad” is not bound by RTI says GMR !!!

Reply of the Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate in Hyderabad about their representation to cut trees.

Article in the HINDU about US Consulate’s request for cutting trees in Paigah Palace – Use of RTI !!

US Consulate and the Lie !!!

Edit Page article in Eenadu on RTI !!

Free Advices are always Dangerous !!!

Had the CIC Division Bench hearing of the IIM - Online CAT- Prometric deal today. Decision is reserved and will probably be out in 2-3 days. But i heard the funniest argument ever made from Mr Satish Deodhar (Convenor - CAT 2010).

1. My application clearly states in the very first paragraph that "This application is in my personal capacity of a citizen of India". (Snapshot of the application is below) 2. It is also clearly written in my application that the oracle address is only for COMMUNICATION.

Let us look at the ABCs of RTI act

Companies or organizations cannot file an RTI. Only individuals who are citizens of India can file an RTI application.

Sec 6(2) of the act says "An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him”

How is it that Mr Deodhar missed these basics? Not sure, but its time he read the RTI act in detail, specially Sec 6, Sec 10(1) etc. Free advices are always dangerous. Follow them if you want to, but only with caution!!

సమాచార హక్కు చట్టం – కిం కర్తవ్యం

Hindu article on the IAS/IPS Officers IPRs - RTI

Details of "United Forum for RTI Campaign - AP's" Press Meet Held on 20th October 2009

Article in the Hindu about IIMs refusing to give information !!

IIMs and their best kept SECRET !!!

Article in today's Deccan Chronicle..

IIMs - Online CAT - RTI

Correcting your Application Data

Osmania Government Hospital and RTI !!

One more RTI Success Story. The revolution lives on...

Publicity Expenditure of AP Govt !!

The Tainted Netas from AP - Phase1 of Loksabha Elections..

60 tainted MLAs !!!! Welcome to Andhra Pradesh...

Karimnagar Meeting of RTI Activists

1. My application clearly states in the very first paragraph that "This application is in my personal capacity of a citizen of India". (Snapshot of the application is below)
2. It is also clearly written in my application that the oracle address is only for COMMUNICATION.

How is it that Mr Deodhar missed these basics? Not sure, but its time he read the RTI act in detail, specially Sec 6, Sec 10(1) etc.
Free advices are always dangerous. Follow them if you want to, but only with caution!!