Financial Express: New Delhi: Thursday, May 24, 2018.
Rahul Chitra
left everyone bewildered when he moved the Central Information Commission after
queries by way of an RTI plea regarding his “blood group” to the Medical
Council of India (MCI) was rejected on grounds that it seeks to gather the
opinion of the Central Public Information Officer “which is not covered under
the definition of ‘Information’ under the RTI Act”. Rahul filed the plea after
tests threw up different results about his blood group.
Rahul had
also attached reports of tests conducted at different government hospitals and
private labs which he claimed threw up “completely different results” about his
blood group. A few tests revealed his RH factor was positive. However, it was
found negative in others, he claimed. Notably, Rhesus (Rh) factor is an
inherited protein found on the surface of red blood cells. If a person’s blood
has the protein, his/her Rh factor is positive. If blood lacks the protein, Rh
is negative. Rh positive is the most common blood type.
Pressing for
his demand, Rahul had appeared for hearing before Information Commissioner
Yashovardhan Azad. Rahul had informed the commission that he had undergone
blood tests at four different pathological labs in Agra and at the district
hospital. The tests showed he has two blood types B positive, B negative. He
said a test conducted at the Pant Hospital in Delhi showed his blood group was
B positive. “If, during an emergency, I require blood transfusion, which blood
group would be given to me?” Chitra asked.
Taking
cognisance of the issue, the Information Commissioner had noted that the issue
raised by the applicant was “serious in nature and pertains to Chitra’s life”.
“There is no clarity on Rahul Chitra’s blood group. It’s a serious question as
to which blood group should be given to him in case of an emergency. It becomes
even more important as the information sought is linked to his Right to Life,”
he said.
The
Information Commissioner also rejected the MCI’s contention that the question
does not come under the definition of “Information” which can be sought under
the RTI Act and asked the CPIO to transfer the application to Director, All
India Institute of Medical Sciences. “AIIMS is a super speciality hospital
which conducts research on such special cases. The commission has concluded
that AIIMS can do proper inquiry and inform the applicant,” Azad said directing
the Director, AIIMS, to do the needful and inform the applicant accordingly.