Deccan Herald: Bengaluru: Wednesday,
February 15, 2017.
The High
Court of Karnataka on Monday directed a petitioner, seeking protection for
persons who frequently file applications under the Right to Information (RTI)
Act, to give his representation to the additional chief secretary, Home
department.
The
petitioner, Umapathi S, approached the court, citing increasing instances of
attack and murder of RTI activists and whistleblowers. He has contended that
the government has failed to initiate necessary action to give protection to
RTI activists.
Umapathi said
the High Court had taken up the case of the murder of RTI activist Lingaraju
after reports in the media.
The court
disposed of the matter, directing the government to frame suitable policy for
protection of activists.
However, the
government failed to act on the direction, despite a contempt petition being
filed against it. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and
Justice R B Budihal disposed of the PIL, directing the petitioner to give his
representation to the additional chief secretary in two weeks and for
considering the representation in three months.