Want information, pay Rs 1.07 lakh first: Western Railway.

Free Press Journal: FPJ Bureau | Indore: Monday, September 25, 2017

Cocking a snook on Prime Minister’s digital dream, the Western Railway insists on hard copy of chief information commissioner (CIC) for providing information sought through RTI by an applicant.

Moreover, in a move to avoid reply to the RTI application, officials of Western Railway asked the applicant to pay fees for the information at the rate of Rs 1000 per page along with service tax.

Much to the shock of RTI applicant Siddharth Khandelwal, a resident of Sikh Mohalla, the railway officials asked him to pay a total sum of Rs 1.07 lakh for getting the information, which is of 94 pages.

“I filed an RTI application in April seeking information on the reserved quota in Avantika Express along with information of seats allotted to the passengers on April 28, this year,” Siddharth said.

WR demands Rs 1.07 lakh for providing information

He said that the application was filed to get the knowledge of reserved quota in trains but instead of giving the information, the railway officials asked me to pay over one lakh rupees for giving attested copies of the passengers chart.

“Railway’s appellate authority gave me a reference of a circular over the charges and fees for information under RTI but that circular was not sent to any public information officer (PIC) for their knowledge,” Siddharth said.

The RTI application said when he told the railway officials about the CIC order over an appeal no CIC/VS/A/2015/900652 in which CIC directed the railways to take steps to amend the rules regarding copying charges suitably to bring them in conformity with the letter and spirit of the RTI Act and Rules.

“Surprisingly, the railway officers denied to have any copy of such orders and they didn’t even rely on the copy I provided them with the words that they didn’t receive any copy from the CIC so far,” he added.