The Northlines: J&K: Tuesday, June 20, 2017.
With a great
elan it is being telecast repeatedly on Republic TV that information has been
denied to an RTI of an Activist accessed by the channel regarding funding of
the separatists. Reportedly both the State and Central Govt. have said no to
the RTI query. Section 8 of J&K RTI Act 2009 makes a mention of information
that is exempted from disclosure viz “information, disclosure of which would
prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security,
strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State or lead to incitement
of an offence” and “information which would impede the process of investigation
or apprehension or prosecution of offenders”. There are a few more areas that
lead no elaboration as of now. Go to a book shop spend Rs. 50/- only and get
educated if you are interested in operation RTI. Many people are interested
verbally in seeking information but they need another’s shoulder to fire. Thank
GOD in our country we have a few genuine fiery brains.
Let me make a
mention of a provision in the section 8 that reads “Notwithstanding anything of
State Officials Secret Act or any of the exemptions permissible a public
authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure
outweighs the harm to the protected interests”. It is on the basis of this
provision that this writer succeeded in getting information about the tainted
Ex-VC of Jammu University Mr. Amitabh Mattoo now somewhere lost in the
corridors of power. He is getting Rs. 1/- as a token salary to inspire others
except this scribe with a deadly pen that is always full.
Commenting on
the matter in hand it appears that in the prevalent scenario obtaining in our
State in particular and Country in general there was no harm to share at least
some information as the skeletons in the cupboard of separatists are already in
the public domain. But how one can force the apparent pillars of power? There
is also provision for 1st Appeal and you can opt for 2nd Appeal too. Par Sabr
Koun Kare!
With due
respects to the applicant it can be safely written that owing to some media
connections he preferred hype and his RTI matter has become a concern for
worldwide debate. The particular TV channel and other channels these days have
sufficient number of TV studio Warriors comprising a few Retd. Generals,
bureaucrats, rejected politicians, pseudo activists and loud mouthed speakers
for whom dinner is not digestible till they shout at the top of their voice to
impress others and project themselves as top ranking nationalists. Tagore I
don’t know why talked of internationalism along with nationalism that grows in
the hearts and minds. But who bothers.
Friends do
not take RTI matters casually and the hype of the media can at times boomerang.
Fail to understand why only a selected few occupy cozy chairs in the TV studios
while a limited coverage is given to the voice of genuinely affected commoners.
Isme Bhi Koi Design Hai, bacho!
Hopefully
after filing the 1st Appeal or proving with sufficient arguments the public
interest the information will be disclosed and then the real test of Activist
will commence. Some people file RTIs for harassing and blackmailing others.
They need to be exposed and even punished by the law of the land. I shall
hasten to add that even a few apparently public spirited Advocates/RTI
Activists have made a hobby of filing frivolous RTIs for cheap publicity. Do
you want me to name them? Wait till tomorrow.
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