Cases’ info to be made public

Pune Mirror: Pune: Tuesday, April 22, 2014.

The RTI activist had filed 47 applications; kin not to pursue case against cops and politicians mentioned in the suicide note.

Amonth after 53-year-old old Right to Information (RTI) activist Vilas Dattatrey Baravkar committed suicide in his Chakan home alleging in his four-page suicide note that his opponents and even the police were against him for several years, State Chief Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad has ordered the information sought by Baravkar to be made public, while National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) lamented the increasing attacks against whistleblowers in the state.

State Information Commissioner office in Pune has consolidated information on RTI applications filed by Baravkar he filed 47 applications in various departments, including Pune and Raigad Police Superintendent's office, Khed Tehsildar, Director General of Police and Assistant Registrar Khed.

Speaking to Mirror, State Information Commissioner, Pune, Ravindra Jadhav, said the applications filed by Baravkar have been sorted on the basis of departments they were directed to. "Out of 47 applications filed by Baravkar, 25 orders have already been issued.

Out of 22 pending applications, 14 have been directed to Pune Rural Police Superintendent and two applications to Raigad Police Superintendent's office, three to Khed Tehsildar, two to Director General of Police and one application to Assistant Registrar of Khed office. All the concerned offices have been asked to upload information sought by Baravkar on their respective websites."

When asked how many departments have complied with the order issued by his department, Jadhav said that he would "sensitise the concerned departments to upload the information on their websites". Meanwhile, National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) has written a letter to Gaikwad to issue a press release once the information is disclosed by the concerned departments.

NCPRI has mentioned in the letter that Baravkar in his suicide note had named 52 persons, including senior police officers, relatives and villagers, whose vested interests were adversely affected by his RTI interventions.

While expressing serious concern about the increasing attacks against whistleblowers in the State, NCPRI said that it reflects the failure of the State to ensure the practical realisation of the national motto 'Satyamev Jayate'. Meanwhile, fearing victimisation, Baravkar's family has decided not to pursue case against cops and politicians mentioned in the suicide note who may have abetted his death.

Sunil Shevkari, Baravkar's son-in-law told Mirror, "We have unanimously decided not to pursue the case against people mentioned in his note as we fear it may create new enemies, and we do not want that," adding that the family has forgiven them.

Additional Superintendent of Police Vijaykumar Magar, who is investigating the case, said, "We have so far recorded statements of family members and few neighbours, and further investigation is on."