Hindustan Times: Chandigarh: Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
Stonewalling
details sought under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, the army submitted
before the chief information commission (CIC), New Delhi, that the Army Polo
and Riding Club (APRC) is not a public authority. This is despite the fact that
APRC, which is situated inside the premises of B squadron of 61 cavalry in
Delhi Cantonment, is run by serving officers.
When
Chandigarh-based advocate Major Guneet Chaudhary (retd) had sought information
about the club, the CIC had asked the Army to clarify on two issues government
assistance in running activities of the club and the present location of the
club along with names of its president and vice-president.
However, the
army held that the APRC is not a public authority and hence does fall within
the ambit of RTI Act. “The club is a self-financed private body providing
recreational facilities. It is not in receipt of any government/public funding.
The club generates its funds from subscriptions which are utilised for
promotion of equestrian activities such as maintenance of horses, salaries of
grooms, office staff etc.,” said the reply.
But, it
admitted that the club is located within B squadron 61 cavalry “with an aim to
provide easy accessibility to defence officers and their dependants as a number
of them stay within Delhi Cantonment”.
‘Ex-officio
capacity’
The reply
also said that the club president is quartermaster general, ministry of defence
(MoD), and vice-president is additional director general, Integrated
Headquarters, MoD. It mentioned that they held the posts only in ex-officio
capacity and did not get any remuneration for their services.
“...there is
no direct control of Integrated Headquarters, MoD (Army), or the central
government in the functioning of the club,” says the reply.
Major
Chaudhary sought information about the club’s resources in January 2013, saying
that it was a public body and should therefore give out information asked under
the RTI Act.
“It is being
run from a defence institution. Serving officers are running it. Earlier, chief
of army staff used to be the club president. It is definitely a public body and
they must give information under the RTI Act.”
The matter is
pending in appeal and the CIC is yet to give a verdict on it.
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