Times of India: Mimbai: Friday, May
27, 2016.
In a first of
its kind, the home department led by chief minister Devendra Fadanvis has paid
Rs 10 lakh to an RTI activist as interim compensation for failing to protect
him from a violent attack. The move follows an order passed by the State Human
Rights Commission headed by former Chief Justice S R Bannurmath.
Justice
Bhannurmath had passed the order on September 2, 2015, while a cheque of Rs 10
lakh was handed over to the activist, Arun Sawant, by a senior official of the
Thane Police commissionerate a week ago. "The order was passed on
September 2, 2015 and was submitted to the home department for further
instructions. After the proposal was approved, a cheque was handed over to the
RTI activist at his Kulgaon home in Thane district,'' a senior IPS official
told TOI on Thursday.
An SHRC
official said it was found that the state government was reluctant to implement
the order, as the commission does not have executive powers to implement its
directives. "I think, in the recent past, it is highest amount paid to an
RTI activist. We are glad the Fadnavis government has implemented the order,''
he said.
Since RTI
activist Arun Sawant had sought specific information on a section of
politicians and public servant, he was apprehending danger to his life. In
fact, on February 9, 2010, Sawant had requested the Thane police commissioner
to provide him police protection but his plea was ignored by law-enforcement
agencies. Two persons fired two rounds at him and he was seriously injured on
February 26, 2010.
During the
course of hearing before Justice Bannurmath and SHRC member B D More, a senior
police official submitted that Sawant had refused police protection and that he
was not a social worker and was misusing the RTI Act. Subsequently, the SHRC
had summoned the Thane police commissioner but no senior officer was present
before the commission.
A Thane
police official, who was present, was unable to establish that Sawant's track
record was bad and he refused police protection. "In the absence of
documentary evidence, the commission finds that the entire story of alleged
inquiry or approach to Sawant on various dates is a self-serving, after thought
story put up by police in its defence... the request of the complainant for
protection was dated February 9, 2010, and as he was not provided security
within 15 days, he was attacked... after going through the entire records and
arguments addressed by both sides, the commission finds that there is utter
negligence and apathy on the part of the police in not providing timely
protection to Sawant,'' Justice Bannurmath observed.
Justice
Bannurmath pointed out that the police officials' apathy and insensitivity
probably appeared to be out of prejudice towards Sawant's RTI activities and
especially as the inquiry was against two powerful and influential public
servants.
.JPG)
.JPG)
