The Sentinel: Mangaldai: Tuesday,
May 03, 2016.
The
government has introduced the RTI Act 2005 to bring transparency and check
corruption in governance but due to a section of corrupt bureaucrats and
officials, the very purpose of the Act is often stated to be threatened. Not to
talk about the officials of any other State Government departments, it is the
most sensitive Home department which has been entrusted with the responsibility
of looking after the law-and-order situation in the State that has been found
to be ignoring repeated petitions under the Act since 2013, thereby violating
the provisions of the Act. But thanks to the Assam Information Commission (AIC)
which has taken up the matter very seriously and served notice to the Home
Department seeking explanation as to why penalty u/s 20 (1) of the RTI Act
should not be imposed after registering a case on the basis a complaint
petition by the RTI applicant senior journalist Mayukh Goswami of Ward No-1
here.
The
Commission by its letter (No. SIC/ KP(M) 200/2013 /11 Dtd. 19th March, 2016)
addressed to the SPIO of Home Department not only asked him to submit
explanation but also directed him to appear before the Commission for necessary
hearing. However, as the hearing on April 5 could not be completed due to the
absence of officials concerned of the respondent Home Department, the
Commission by its order (No. SIC.KP (M).200/2013/15 dtd. 20th April ) has fixed
May 4 as the next date of hearing. However, a written submission on April 4
received by the Commission from B Pegu, Joint Secretary of Government of Assam
and SPIO of Home department has stated
that the SPIO sought assistance from the Joint Secretary, Home (A) Department
vide letter dated January 22, 2013 followed by three reminders without any
effect. The Commission observed it as a case of serious negligence and lapse on
the part of the Home Department.
The applicant
Mayukh Goswami, under the provision of the RTI Act, on January 11, 2013 filed a
petition before the PIO, Home Department, Government of Assam, seeking
information regarding the promotion of police officers in Assam Police to the
rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Additional Superintendent of Police
and Superintendent of Police in the year 2012 and if any case of criminal
nature was pending against any of the said senior police officials enjoying
promotional benefits.
Unfortunately
the Home Department allegedly denied information even after first appeal before
the first appellate authority of the department on February 25, 2013 which led
to the applicant to raise complaint before AIC on April 19, 2013. In the
meantime the applicant received three copies of letters from MC Deka, Deputy Secretary, Home Department
respectively with memo nos. HMA.59/2013/2 Dtd. 22/1/2013 , HMA.59 / 2013 /5
Dtd. 15-3-2013 and HMA.59 / 2013 / 7 Dtd. 22/3/2013 which were addressed to
Joint Secretary of the department, MP
Sharma twice and Joint Secretary S Shah once.
Meanwhile,
according to the information received from the Director General of Police,
Assam, as many as 87 officers have been promoted from the rank of Inspector to
Superintendent of Police, including 52 from Inspectors to Deputy Superintendent
of Police, 26 to Additional Superintendent of Police and other 9 to the rank of
Superintendent of Police or Commandants. Significantly, some of the senior law
enforcers are enjoying official benefits even though cases of criminal nature
are allegedly pending against them.
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