Over 11 Lakh Vehicles Use MTHL In 4 Months, Toll Of ₹22.57 Crore Collected: RTI

Free Press Journal: Mumbai: Sunday, 5 May 2024.
This was revealed in the reply to an RTI application filed by Ajay Basu, a resident of Amravati

Since its opening on January 12, 2024, a total of 11,07, 606 vehicles passed through Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), popularly known as Atal Setu. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has collected a toll of Rs 22.57 Crore from these vehicles. This was revealed in the reply to an RTI application filed by Ajay Basu, a resident of Amravati.
According to the reply, 10.80 lakh cars/jeeps/vans passed through the road between January 12, 2024 and April 23, 2024. The total toll collection from these vehicles amounted to Rs 20.15 Crore while Rs 20.62 Lakh was collected as toll from 5,663 LCVs and minibuses that passed through the stretch during the above period.
Similarly, toll of Rs 59.70 Lakh was collected from 7,842 buses and trucks that used the arterial road, while Rs 1.29 Crore toll was paid by 10,062 MAVs (4-6 axle), Rs 31.72 Lakh was paid by 3,867 MAVs (3 axle) and Rs 11,265 was collected from 50 oversized vehicles that used MTHL in four months, the RTI reply revealed.
MTHL toll is Rs 250 for the entire stretch from Sewri to Chirle
The total toll on MTHL is Rs 250 for the entire stretch from Sewri to Chirle, Navi Mumbai. Whereas, the toll for Sewri to Shivaji Nagar (Ulwe), Navi Mumbai, is Rs 200. The return trip for passenger cars is Rs 300, daily pass Rs 500 and monthly pass Rs 10,000.
The MTHL is a 21.8 km road bridge is the longest sea bridge in India connecting Sewri in South Mumbai and crossing Thane Creek north of Elephanta Island to terminate at Chirle village, near Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai. The bridge gives faster connectivity with proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport, JNPT Port, Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Goa Highway. On the Mumbai side, connectivity with coastal road is planned through the Sewri-Worli Elevated Connector project.
The total length of MTHL Bridge on sea is 16.50 km and on land portion is 5.5 km. The sea link will contain a 6-lane (3+3 lane) highway in addition to an emergency lane on both sides. There are seven (7) Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) spans of length 90m to 180m which are used on any bridge for the first time in India. There are interchanges at Sewri in Mumbai, Shivaji Nagar and SH-54 in Jasai and at Chirle on NH-348.

Rabies from stray dog bites claimed 47 lives in Kerala in last four years, shows RTI reply

The Hindu: Kochi: Sunday, 5 May 2024.
This was in addition to 22 more lives ‘probably’ lost to rabies, according to response received by RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala
Rabies caused by stray dog bites has claimed 47 lives in Kerala in the last four years between January 2020 and January 2024, revealed a response by the office of the State health director to a Right to Information (RTI) application.
This was in addition to 22 more lives ‘probably’ lost to rabies, according to the response received by RTI activist Raju Vazhakkala.
The highest number of 10 ‘confirmed rabies deaths’ was reported from Kollam district, followed by 9 in Thiruvananthapuram.
Five lives each were lost in Thrissur and Kannur, four in Kozhikode, three each in Ernakulam and Palakkad, two each in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Wayanad, and one each in Malappuram and Kasaragod districts during the period.
Among the ‘probable rabies deaths,’ seven were reported from Alappuzha, three each in Thrissur and Palakkad, two each in Kottayam and Malappuram and one each in Idukki and Kozhikode districts.
“At a time when human-wildlife conflict has become a major discussion point, a serious public health issue caused by stray dogs has gone largely under the radar. Loss of 69 lives, including 22 probable deaths due to rabies, in four years is a significant number and the issue needs attention,” said Mr. Vazhakkala.
While 15 deaths each were confirmed due to rabies in 2022 and 2023, 11 lives were lost in 2021, five in 2020 and one in the first month of 2024 alone. Among the 22 probable deaths caused by rabies, 12 occurred in 2022 and 10 in 2023.
The number of people who have sought treatment across the State for stray dog bites has also progressively gone up in the last four years. While 1.6 lakh people sought treatment in 2020, it rose to 2.21 lakh in 2021, 2.88 lakh in 2022 and 3.06 lakh in 2023. In the first month of 2024 alone, 26,060 people sought treatment for stray dog bite.
Thiruvananthapuram led the list with 1.46 lakh people seeking treatment over the last four years, followed by Palakkad with 1.14 lakh and Kollam with 1.11 lakh.
Families of not all victims of rabies receive financial assistance by the Central or State governments. However, death and damage caused by stray dog bites are being compensated by the Supreme Court-appointed Justice S. Siri Jagan Committee through the local bodies concerned. There is no specific sum but the compensation is assessed based on the extent of damage and circumstances.

Govt committed to effective information flow: Minister Sharma

Radio Nepal: Kathmandu: Sunday, 5 May 2024.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma has emphasized on recognition of right to information (RTI) as the responsibility of public agencies so that information flow would be further effective.

Addressing a programme organized at the Office of President-Sheetal Niwas- on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of National Information Commission today, Minister Sharma asserted that it was not optional for public agencies to share information to the citizens, but an obligation whenever they are demanded.
Sharma called for an effective implementation of RTI to guarantee citizens’ easy access to information of public concerns and importance, which has role on strengthening of democracy and sustainable peace.
‘The RTI practice should be increased also to implement the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. The government is firm towards it. Every public agency has designated information officer to provide information on matters of public concerns sought by the public,’ the Minister reminded.
Furthermore, the Minister said that spokespersons are designated to share public information through media. All three-tier governments are putting this provision into practice. ‘Hello Sarkar’, the hotline, is also in operation under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to facilitate citizens in seeking information and make public service delivery more effective.
According to her, the incumbent government had emphasized simplifying service delivery and ensuring good-governance since, she argued, public agencies should automatically make some information public while some upon enquiry to assure transparency and good-governance.
She clarified that the government’s performance improves if RTI is enforced correctly. The Minister also informed that government was responding actively with investigation and action in case of information on irregularities that are brought to public through media stories.
She also lauded the role of media which are boosting RTI promotion. Sharma vowed information update and proactive disclosure. Existing law could be revised to suit changing need.
The suggestions from public would be kept in mind for effective RTI enforcement and public service delivery. ‘Seeking information is not pestering public employees but making public service transparent,’ he reminded, pledging security of information providers.
During the program, Chief Information Commissioner at NIC, Mahendra Man Gurung, thanked Nepal government for its role and support for the practice, protection and promotion of RTI. He also committed to forwarding further activities so that RTI regime would be expanded and strengthened across the country.
On the occasion, FNJ President Bipul Pokharel said FNJ was active for effective implementation of laws related to RTI. He expressed the belief that democracy would be strong if citizens practice RTI effectively.
Similarly, RTI campaigner Umid Bagchand mentioned that RTI is one of the best tools to empower citizens. The Commission was established on Baishakh 22, 2065 BS for the protection, promotion and exercise of RTI in accordance with RTI Act, 2064 BS. The Constitution of Nepal has guaranteed RTI as the fundamental right.
On the occasion, President Paudel presented awards to information officers and campaigners for their outstanding performance related to RTI. Parshuram Sah of Siraha municipality-7, Yadunath Banjara of Pokhara metropolitan city, Indra Prasad Banjara of Hetauda sub-metropolis-8 and Aditya Dahal of Melamchi municipality-10 received ‘Binay Kasajoo Best RTI Campaigner Award’.
Best Information Officer Award was presented to Lalit Bahadur Budha of Panchadewal Binayak municipality in Achham, Kishor Kumar Waiba of Ghyanglekh rural municipality in Sindhuli, Tul Bahadur BK of Galkot municipality in Baglung, Tek Bahadur Khatri of Dangisharan rural municipality in Dang and Dambar Rogu of Dhankuta municipality.
Section officer at the Commission Harihar Karki, nayab subba Shanta Neupane, accountant Laxman Aryal and computer operator Gaurab Gurung were awarded with Best Employee Award.

IIT Placement Woes Continue As Institutes Struggle With High Numbers of Unplaced Graduates; RTI Reports Reveal

Free Press Journal: National: Saturday, 4 May 2024.
An RTI filed by Dheeraj Singh, an IIT Kanpur alumnus and the founder of Global IIT Alumni Support Group reveals the discrepancies in the number of students getting placed in the institutes over the course of years.
The placement season continues to haunt the Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs), with over hundreds of students remaining unplaced throughout the course of four years. The placement season which officially began in December 2024 in various IITs in the country is nearly at the brink of their completion. However, a RTI filed by Dheeraj Singh, an IIT Kanpur alumnus and the founder of Global IIT Alumni Support Group reveals the discrepancies in the number of students getting placed in the institutes over the course of years.
As claimed by Singh, 500 students are yet to be placed out of the 1,600 students for the academic year 2023-24 in IIT Kanpur as of April 29, 2024. This means that 31.3% students are yet to secure a placement so far.
While, if we tally the last year’s, that is, 2022-23 placement report of IIT Kanpur, it is revealed in the RTI reply that 167 students were left without a job in hand out of the 1362 students who registered for the placement session. And in the year preceding this, that is, 2021-22, around 177 students remained unplaced out of the 1391 students.
Whereas, in the year 2020-21, 322 students were unplaced out of 1135 students, according to the RTI report.
Similar pattern is noted in the numbers of IIT Kharagpur, wherein, according to the RTI report, 815 students remained unplaced in the 2022-23 session out of 2490 students who registered. This translates to 33% of the students who did not secure a job.
Then, in the academic year 2021-22, 641 students were unplaced out of 2256 students, as per the report.
The RTI response was given by the Career Development Cell of the institute.
The situation is dire in IIT BHU as well, wherein almost 692 students remain to be placed out of 1735 students as per the RTI report. While, in the academic year 2022-23, 336 students remained unplaced out of 1428 registered students, which is revealed by the report.
The report also revealed that it is not just old IITs which are facing this issue, IIT Ropar has 93 students waiting for their placement out of 298 students. In the academic year, 2022-23 the institute had 49 unplaced students out of 281 of those who registered.
Similarly, in IIT Palakkad, 16 students remained unplaced in the 2022-23 academic year out of 211 registered students as per the report.
The RTI report revealed that in IIT Jammu, 125 students are yet to be placed out of 251 registered students this year. While, in the academic year 2022-23, 33 students remained unplaced out of 220 students.
FPJ reached out to IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT BHU, IIT Palakkad, IIT Ropar and IIT Jammu through mails, however, till the publishing of this copy, no response was received.

IIT Hyderabad: 46% of students yet to secure placements, Phase 2 underway, reveals RTI

Edex Live: Hyderabad: Saturday, 4 May 2024.
At the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad, placement woes have been reported.

In the current academic year 2023-2024, 46% of students are yet to secure placements. Also, 23% and 22% of students were not placed in year 2023 and 2022, respectively.
This is as per information furnished by a Right To Information (RTI) plea filed by Dheeraj Singh, Founder of an online forum with the name Global IIT SC/ST (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe) Alumni Support Group, which EdexLive has access to. The RTI was filed on April 11, 2024.
While the Phase 2 of the placement season at the IIT is still underway, as of now, 451 students have secured jobs. It may be noted that 843 students have registered so far.
In the academic year 2022-23, as many as 585 students were placed out of the 762 registered, which means, the percentage of those unplaced stood at 23%. Similarly, in the academic year 2021-22, 519 received job offers out of the 666 students who registered, pegging the percentage of unplaced students at 22%.
Average salary
When it comes to average salary per annum, here are the figures:

• Academic year 2021-2022 - Average salary was Rs 21.55 lakh and the median salary was Rs 15 lakh
• Academic year 2022-23 - Average salary was Rs 16.98 lakh and the median salary was Rs 18 lakh
• Academic year 2023-24 - Average salary was Rs 22.96 and the median salary was Rs 20 lakh

Dheeraj Singh is also an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, whose RTIs have revealed crucial information in the past as well.

HC refuses bail to 3 for ‘fake news’ on Pandian’s security

Times of India: Cuttack: Saturday, 4 May 2024.
The Orissa high court has refused to grant anticipatory bail to three alleged RTI activists accused of spreading “fake news” related to the security cover of BJD leader V K Pandian.
On March 30, the three activists Pradip Pradhan, Prakash Dash, and Srikant Pakal held a press conference in Bhubaneswar and claimed the number of police personnel deployed around Pandian was 74, an unusually high figure. They claimed the information was obtained through RTI query.
After the state police dismissed the claim stating that no such reply was supplied to any RTI applicant, a case was registered against the three at Saheed Nagar police station in Bhubaneswar on April 4 for allegedly committing forgery and fraudulently using forged document to spread “fake news”.
Subsequently, the three purported RTI activists filed anticipatory bail in the high court on April 6. While rejecting the anticipatory bail plea, the single judge bench of Justice Chittaranjan Dash said on April 30, “This court acknowledges the weight of allegations against the petitioners, which prima facie establishes the accusations of forgery and misrepresentation of information obtained through the RTI Act.”
Justice Dash added, “In the above premises, grant of anticipatory bail to the petitioners would not serve the interests of justice, as there exists substantial material suggesting their involvement in grave misconduct under the alleged offences. The actions alleged not only violates the sanctity of the RTI Act, but also erodes public trust and reliance on the work conducted by RTI activists of promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.”

115 Students of IITs Died by Sucide in Last 20 Years, Reveals RTI Reply: By Sukanya Nandy

News18: New Delhi: Friday, 3 May 2024.
As many as 115 students of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have died by suicide since 2005, of which, 98 were on the campus, and 17 were off campus, reported Hindustan Times. The data was received through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Dheeraj Singh, who is an IIT Kanpur alumnus and the founder of the Global IIT Alumni Support Group.
Singh had filed for an RTI application following the death of IIT Bombay student Darshan Solanki on February 12, 2023. The data further stated that IIT Madras recorded the highest number of student suicides between 2005 and 2024 at 26. This was followed by IIT Kanpur with 18 student deaths, 13 at IIT Kharagpur, and 10 at IIT Bombay. This year, a total of five deaths have been recorded so far, the news agency reported.
“The higher education department, which comes under the union ministry of education, initially rejected my application and asked me to file separate RTIs for individual institutes,” said Singh adding that the ministry instructed all the IITs to share the required data after he filed an appeal.
However, according to Singh, only 13 out of 23 IITs have shared data in the last eight months, the report added. “I also collected data from authentic sources in the public domain, which included National Crime Record Bureau statistics and answers to questions posed in Parliament,” he added.
Singh also said that he wants to bring to light the huge pressure students face across IITs in India and added that it is time to take serious measures to curb this issue. “There is an urgent need to reform IIT education to make it less stressful for students, faculty, and parents,” he added.
In February, IIT Delhi conducted its biggest ‘Open House’ meeting to address student’s concerns following widespread protests on campus in the wake of the fourth student suicide this academic year. Students demanded setting up a permanent internal committee to look into suicides on campus. The Open House with the institute’s director Rangan Banerjee saw UG and PG students putting forth their demands asking for “systemic changes” in the way the institute functions.

Group submits RTI application seeking information on BVRs for limited registration exercise

My Joy: Ghana: Friday, 3 May 2024.

Election Watch Ghana has submitted a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking the serial numbers of all Biometric Verification Register (BVR) kits intended for use in the upcoming limited voter registration exercise.
Jude Balma, the convener of the group, in a statement, explained that they are also seeking information on the specific registration centres where each BVR kit will be deployed during the exercise.
The initiative by Election Watch Ghana underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The limited voter registration exercise, scheduled to run from May 7 to May 27, 2024, aims to facilitate the inclusion of new eligible voters, particularly those who have recently turned 18, into the voter register.
Below is the full statement.
Request for Information under the Right to Information Act
We are writing to request information on the BVR under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
We request the following as you already know,

1. The serial numbers of all Biometric Verification Register (BVR) kits to be used for the limited registration exercise starting this month (May)
2. The corresponding registration centres where each BVR kit will be deployed.

I believe this information is crucial for transparency and accountability in the electoral process even though we know you think otherwise but we would appreciate it if you could provide this information in a digital format to enable our agent on the grounds to work effectively.
We are ready to bear any associated cost that our demand will come with and we will promptly pay for faster facilitation. If there are any issues with our request, please do not hesitate to contact us because together we will build a stronger democracy.
Thank you for your time and hope to receive them soon.

No Denial under RTI because Information Sought Is Voluminous: Delhi HC to Indian Institute of Foreign Trade: Vinita Deshmukh

Moneylife: Pune: Friday, 3 May 2024.

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), a financial educational institute under the ministry of commerce, has been ordered by the Delhi High Court last week, to comply with the central information commissioner (CIC)’s order of providing the voluminous information on various aspects of the financial expenditure of its director as well as of the institute to the right to information (RTI) applicant.
The two elaborate RTI applications filed by Kamaljit Chibber, a former employee of IIFT in 2015 and 2016, were rejected by the central public information officer (CPIO) which invoked the section 8 exemption clause and also denied information due to its elaborate nature which would mean providing several hundred pages.
The CPIO replied, “Information sought by you is voluminous and contained in multiple files having hundreds of papers each. As such, it would not be possible for us to compile the information and send it across to you.”
Mr Chibber approached the CIC who ordered that “The Appellant (Chibber) has been deprived by the Respondents (IIFT) deliberately from having the benefits of the RTI Act, 2005, even after lapse of more than seven months period. Thus, the Respondents have defeated the very purpose of the RTI Act, 2005 for which it was legislated by the Parliament of India. As such, the commission feels that Appellant’s second appeal deserves to be allowed in toto.”
“The Respondents (IIFT) are hereby directed to provide the complete and categorical information, issue-wise, to the appellant as per his RTI application, in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act 2005, within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order under intimation to this Commission. If need be, Section 5(4) of the RTI Act may also be invoked in the matter,” he added.
The CIC also cautioned Mr Chibber not to file multiple, repetition, vexatious and abusive petitions which may cause wastage of time and labour of the public authority and the commission.
This spurred the IIFT to file a writ petition in the Delhi HC, challenging the order of the CIC which directed it to provide the “complete and categorical information, as per the provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005 within 30 days.”
The lawyers of the IIFT argued in the hearing at the Delhi HC that Mr Chibber “has filed more than 20 RTI applications consisting of 27-50 questions. The way he drafted the RTI applications gives an impression that he kept on harassing the institution, and (is) motivated by private vengeance.”
They further stated, “Chibber who has been engaging in the practice of filing numerous RTI applications with the sole motive of inconveniencing, disrupting and defaming various authorities of the petitioner… he has filed upwards of 60 RTI applications…each containing 20-30 questions which would require immense resources to compile and provide the information to the respondent herein as sought for… Thus information disclosure…was denied under Section 7(9) of the RTI Act as it would have taken a lot of resources…”
After hearing the arguments, the Delhi HC observed that:

• Information sought by (the respondent/RTI applicant) does not fall in any of the exemptions contained in section 8 of the RTI Act.
• The only reason that has been given in the writ petition for not providing the information sought by the respondent/ RTI applicant is that the information is bulky and it is not possible for the authorities to provide the information as sought for by the respondent.

Thus:

• The information sought would not prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India or…
• That the information sought is not expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court or…
• That it would not amount to a breach of privilege of Parliament or the state legislature or…
• That the information sought for does not include commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party.

Considering the above points, judge Subramonium Prasad J of the Delhi HC dismissed the case stating that he “does not find any reason to interfere with the order of the CIC.”
RTI applicant Mr Chibber, in one of his RTI applications, had sought the following information:

1. Year-wise details of income and expenditure in respect of various programmes and courses of the institute for the period of the present director.
2. Year-wise details of income and expenditure of various courses and programmes conducted by IIFT prior to that under directorship of S/Shri Chakko, Prabir Sengupta and Dharamrajan.
3. Year-wise details of grants received from the government of India during their periods and the period of the present director.
4. Details of expenditure made out of these grants.
5. Year-wise details of expenditure on renovation of office of the director during the tenure of the present and said directors
6. Year-wise details of expenditure made on the purchase of computers, air conditioners, printers, fittings and fixtures in the office building under the present and said directors.
7. The income received from the sale of computers, ACs each year during directorship of the above directors.
8. Details of year-wise expenditure on purchase of computers, ACs, printers, audio equipment, fittings and fixtures in the office building which was made without inviting tenders/ quotations.
9. Details of expenditure made each year on foreign and inland visits/ trips of present and above past directors and approvals if any received for the same from higher authorities.
10. Details of inland trips of present and former directors which touched their hometowns and places of their relatives.
11. Details of income made from various foreign visits made by the present director and above past directors.
12. Details of year-wise expenditure made on office building at Kolkata under the present and past directors and of their visits to Kolkata.
13. Year-wise details of expenditure made on litigation and fees to advocates with details of the same also under present and said former directors.
14. Details of income made from litigation after fees and other expenses of advocates.
15. Details of year-wise expenditure made on recruitment of faculty under the present and said past directors.
16. Details of year-wise FDs made in different banks and the rates of interest thereon under the present and said past directors and the procedure adopted for making the same.
17. Details of losses suffered, if any, on pre-matured withdrawal of FDs under the present and past directors.
18. The details of year-wise loss caused to revenues of the institute, due to corrupt or other activities of any director and details of action taken thereon.
19. Details of year-wise expenditure on the entertainment head of present and past directors.
20. Details of year-wise expenditure on the governing body and executive meetings and on its members under the present and past three directors.
21. Details of year-wise expenditure on petrol consumption of staff car of the present director and the said three past directors.
22. Details of year-wise fees paid to auditors of the institute under the present and past three directors.
23. Details of total income and expenditure of the institute every year during the tenure of the present and past three directors.
24. Details of year-wise expenditure made on foreign visits of each one of the faculty members and the income if any received from it.
25. Year-wise details of struck payments of the institute at different places under the present and said past three directors.
26. Details of year-wise audit objections in respect of the above expenditures or otherwise for the period of present and past three directors with copies of the same.
27. Details of clarifications, if any, made to the audit objections.

HYC question Govt’s decision to seek clarification on RTI reply related to 342 families at Them Iew Mawlong

Hub News: Shillong: Friday, 3 May 2024.

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Thursday questioned the decision of the state government to seek clarification in regards to the 342 families of Them Iew Mawlong from the same department, which had replied to information sought under RTI Act, 2005 that there are only 194 families identified as government employees.
“Yesterday’s statement of Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home Prestone Tynsong that he has sent (RTI reply received by the HYC) to the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and Urban Affairs to reverify is a joke in one way. How can he send our representation to the same department which has replied to our RTI. How will that change? Will they change the data now? Will they change the fact now? They will be in trouble. How can you make a person who is not an employee of SMB after we have raised this issue he will say that now he is an employee of SMB, which is not possible,” HYC president Roykupar Synrem told reporters.
“We are sticking to our demands and let’s see the clarification given by the SMB. After that we will take necessary action,” he said.
He said that the government will be holding a meeting with the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) on May 7. “However, we stand firm that we have no issue and no problem for the government to provide quarters to the employees of the state government but they should not provide any benefits to any household that are not serving as government employees,” Synrem said.
The HYC has demanded the government to evict 148 illegal settlers from Them Iew Mawlong, following the findings through the RTI reply given by the SMB.
On the delay to resolve the issue, HYC president said, “We have not come across a government, which has the political will to take decisions on any matter or whatsoever. We have seen committees come and go but we have not seen the result yet and the present dispensation is also no different from the other dispensation but saying that we hope that the present government will finally take a decision as we want these people to be relocated from there. We don’t want the same issue to crop up again and affect the security of the state as a whole.”
He also threatened that the HYC will do what is necessary if the government continues to buy time in regards to the issue.

Plea in HC seeks probe into discrepancies between NCRB, Home Ministry data on heroin seizure

The Hindu: New Delhi: Thursday, 2 May 2024.
The petitioner said his investigations, including RTI inquiries, revealed contradictory responses from agencies disavowing the reported seizures
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre on a petition claiming discrepancies between the figures reported by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and those provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) over seizure of heroin between 2018-2020.
The petition filed by B.R. Aravindakshan, a journalist serving as editor in a leading Tamil news channel, said that in 2018, the NCRB reported a seizure of 22,263 kg of heroin, while the MHA accounted for only 19,691.155 kg, resulting in a discrepancy of 2,571 kg.
“Additionally, the MHA claimed Sikkim seized 15,000 kg of heroin, but no agency confirmed this seizure. Similarly, in 2020, the NCRB documented the seizure of 55,804 kg of heroin, but the MHA disclosed 50,000 kg in Sikkim and 3,200 kg in Manipur, which the respective State police departments denied,” his plea said.
The petitioner said his “investigations, including RTI inquiries, revealed contradictory responses from agencies disavowing the reported seizures”.
Paramount importance
“Considering the paramount importance being placed on the reports published by the NCRB and the communications with the political representatives, it is crucial that these numbers are not just numbers but facts build up with authenticity and accountability,” the plea said.
The petition sought a thorough inquiry by the Ministry of Finance into these discrepancies, and proposed involving specialised agencies such as the CBI or NIA for a comprehensive investigation into the missing heroin and the inconsistencies in seizure records.
“On the verge of attaining and accomplishing a ‘drug-free India’, the statistical first hand data is the sole driving factor that provokes the efficient working of the campaign against drug,” the plea said.
The court will hear the case again on September 9.

Govt to reverify reply to RTI query by HYC on Harijan Colony residents

Meghalaya Monitor: Shillong: Thursday, 2 May 2024.
The state government has asked the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and Urban Affairs department to reverify and come back with clarification regarding a recent reply to the RTI query, which indicated that 148 of 342 families of  Harijan Colony are illegal settlers at Them Iew Mawlong.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) received the reply to the queries from the SMB office.
Later, the organisation sought the intervention of Tynsong.

The HYC had alleged that the reply had clearly indicated that there are only 194 families, who are employees of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and other government offices, and presently residing at Them Iew Mawlong and not 342 families as claimed in the affidavit filed before the Meghalaya High Court
In response, Tynsong said, “In fact, they have submitted a memorandum to me and they pointed out about the RTI copy that they had received that instead of 342 families, they found that only 194 or something so I told them it is subjected to verification again. So I have already sent back this copy to the CEO of SMB as well as the Director of Urban Affairs where they have to reverify and come back and give the details on the matter.”
The deputy chief minister said, “Because the way the reply of RTI queries, I remember correctly when I was looking after power department that again that Saubhagya scheme, the RTI and the actual things that we have in the file is different, so I don’t say it is in totality correct, that’s what I sent back to the department concerned and bring back all details and if need be clarification has to be given.”
He said the government will go ahead with the meeting with the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) on May 7, to discuss the  relocation of the residents from Them Iew Mawlong.

HIPA DG ‘tried to pressurise commission…caution her not to interfere’: Haryana chief information commissioner

Indian Express: Chandigarh: Thursday, 2 May 2024.
Taking serious note of a WhatsApp message sent by Haryana Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) Director General Chandralekha Mukherjee seeking adjournment of a Right to Information (RTI) case, Haryana Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Vijai Vardhan said in an order last week that she “apparently tried to pressurise the State Information Commission to delay the hearing of a case”. While Mukherjee admitted to making the request, she said there was no intention to interfere with the Commission’s functioning.
In his April 26 order, Vardhan referred to a WhatsApp message Mukherjee sent to him on November 30, 2023, requesting him to reschedule the hearing of a case. “…this conduct of the present Director General, HIPA Gurgaon is not only devoid of administrative decorum, propriety and courtesy but also tantamounts to interference in the functioning of the Commission,” he said.
The Commission also advised the Haryana chief secretary, who is also chairman of HIPA, to issue an advisory to the director general “cautioning her not to interfere in the functioning of the Commission, in future”.
A government-funded institute established in 1983, the HIPA imparts training to government employees, including those from the state civil services.
The case in question involves Gurgaon resident Raman Sharma, who had filed 28 complaints against officials of the accounts, administration and engineering wings of HIPA. To know the status of these complaints, Sharma had filed an RTI application to HIPA State Public Information Officer (SPIO) Rekha Dahiya, who is an assistant director-level officer.
Unsatisfied with the SPIO’s response, Sharma approached the Commission on September 21, 2023, saying that out of 28 complaints, some were against Dahiya while she claimed that the complaints against her were already closed by the authorities after examination. Sharma had raised questions on her appointment as assistant director stating it had taken place in 2014 when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the general elections was in place. Dahiya had rebutted the same claiming that the advertisement for the post was issued on May 29, 2014, while the MCC was only in place till May 26, 2014.
After hearing both parties, CIC Vardhan observed that the SPIO had “deliberately delayed and denied” furnishing of solicited information. In his order, Vardhan also pointed out that Mukherjee, a former IRTS officer, had sent him a WhatsApp message on November 30, 2023, requesting him to reschedule the hearing from December 7, 2023, to April 2024 while referring to the Mission Karmayogi Haryana (MKH), an ethics training programme for 3.17 lakh government employees launched on November 20, 2023.
In her message, Mukherjee wrote: “As you can visualise, the logistics of this task of mobilising over 3 lakh employees is enormous and everyone at HIPA is extremely busy finalising and implementing MKH. The date of completion of MKH is 31st of March, 2024. I seek your consideration in this matter and your kind support for the smooth conduct of this Mission Karmayogi Haryana Ethics Training Programme.”
Subsequently, she also emailed a demi-official letter to the CIC requesting the hearing be adjourned by nearly four months. The request was declined.
Mukherjee told The Indian Express that after the request was declined, the HIPA officers concerned had attended the hearing in the Commission as per schedule. She also said she had high regard for the Commission and she regrets that her request for an adjournment hurt someone.
Vardhan also observed that the SPIO concerned had also “tried to interfere in the functioning of the Commission by sending a Whatsapp message to his personal assistant [PA] requesting him to prolong the hearing of the case by six months”.
“This is an extremely serious matter and cannot be ignored by the Commission,” observed Vardhan, advising the state chief secretary to initiate disciplinary action against the SPIO regarding “this act of hers immediately and also apprise the Commission about its progress within three months”.
Vardhan also said that the SPIO denied furnishing the solicited information to the applicant in spite of the specific directions of the first appellate authority. However, Dahiya said that only the “personal” information was not shared with the applicant as per the provisions of the RTI Act. She also claimed that there was no attempt to interfere with the functioning of the Commission as merely a request was made to the commissioner’s PA for an adjournment.

Orissa High Court Launches 'Online RTI Portal' For District Judiciary

Live Law: Orissa: Thursday, 2 May 2024.
The Orissa High Court has launched online 'Right to Information (RTI) portal' for the District Judiciary of the State.
The facility has been made available to the citizen from April 30, 2024. The notification issued to this effect reads thus:
“Citizens may register themselves on the RTI Portal to obtain information under the RTI Act from the district judiciary by visiting the website of the High Court of Orissa/concerned District Court.”
The Court has already notified the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and guidelines on its website for use of the RTI portal. Noteworthy to mention that a similar portal for the High Court was launched last year pursuant to the directions issued by the Apex Court.
The Orissa High Court Right to Information Rules, 2005 has been framed and amended from time to time to regulate the RTI regime in the judiciary of the State.

उत्‍तराखंड में ढाई साल में गायब हुईं 3854 महिलाएं, सबसे ज्‍यादा मामले उधमसिंह नगर से आए, RTI से हुआ खुलासा

 Navbharat Times: Dehradun: Wednesday, 1 May 2024.
उत्‍तराखंड में एक जन सूचना अधिकार कार्यकर्ता ने पुलिस मुख्‍यालय से पिछले ढाई साल के दौरान राज्‍य में गायब हुई महिलाओं और बालिकाओं की संख्‍या पर जानकारी मांगी थी। इस जानकारी से पता चला कि जनवरी 2021 से मई 2023 तक 29 माह में 3854 महिलायें तथा 1134 बालिकायें गुमशुदा हुई हैं।
हाइलाइट्स:

• उत्तराखंड में ढाई वर्ष से कम समय में 3854 महिलाएं, 1134 बालिकाएं गायब हुई हैं
  
• आंकड़ों के अनुसार, 2961 गुमशुदा महिलाएं और 1042 बालिकायें बरामद भी हुईं हैं
  
• सूचना अधिकार कार्यकर्ता नदीम उद्दीन को पुलिस मुख्यालय ने यह सूचना मुहैया कराई है

उत्तराखंड में ढाई वर्ष से कम समय में 3854 महिलाएं, 1134 बालिकाएं गायब हुई हैं। आंकड़ों के अनुसार, 2961 गुमशुदा महिलाएं और 1042 बालिकायें बरामद भी हुईं हैं। सूचना अधिकार कार्यकर्ता नदीम उद्दीन को पुलिस मुख्यालय ने यह सूचना मुहैया कराई है।
उत्तराखंड में महिला सुरक्षा और महिला अधिकार संरक्षण के कितने भी दावे कर लिये जाएं लेकिन हकीकत इससे दूर नजर आती है। उत्तराखंड में जनवरी 2021 से मई 2023 तक 29 माह में 3854 महिलाएं और 1134 बालिकाएं गुमशुदा दर्ज की गईं हैं। इस अवधि में 2961 गुमशुदा महिलाएं और 1042 बालिकाएं बरामद भी हुई हैं। यह चौंकाने वाला खुलासा सूचना अधिकार कार्यकर्ता नदीमउद्दीन ने पुलिस से मांगी थी।
उत्तराखंड के जनपद उधम सिंह नगर के काशीपुर निवासी सूचना अधिकार कार्यकर्ता नदीम उद्दीन ने उत्तराखंड पुलिस मुख्यालय के लोक सूचना अधिकारी से उत्तराखंड में गुमशुदा व्यक्तियों, महिलाओं, बालक और बालिकाओं के आंकड़ों की सूचना मांगी थी। इसके उत्तर में पुलिस मुख्यालय की लोक सूचना अधिकारी/अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक (कार्मिक) शाहजहां जावेद खान ने यह जानकारी दी।
इस सूचना के अनुसार उत्तराखंड के 13 जिलों और रेलवे (जी.आर.पी. अन्तर्गत) में जनवरी 2021 से मई 2023 तक कुल 3854 महिलाएं गुमशुदा दर्ज की गई हैं। इनमें 2021 में 1494, वर्ष 2022 में 1632 और वर्ष 2023 में मई तक 728 महिलाएं शामिल हैं। इसी अवधि में कुल 1132 बालिकाएं गुमशुदा दर्ज हुई हैं। इनमें 2021 में 404, वर्ष 2022 में 425 और 2023 में मई तक 305 बालिकायें शामिल हैं।
नदीम को उपलब्ध गुमशुदा महिलाओं की बरामदगी के आंकड़ों के अनुसार जनवरी 2021 से मई 2023 तक कुल 2961 महिलाएं बरामद हुई हैं। इसमें 2021 में 1271, वर्ष 2022 में 1281 और 2023 में मई तक 409 महिलाएं शामिल हैं। इसी अवधि में कुल 1042 गुमशुदा बालिकाएं बरामद हुई हैं जिसमें 2021 में 393, वर्ष 2022 में 403 तथा 2023 में मई तक 246 बालिकाएं शामिल हैं।
गुमशुदा महिलाओं के जिलावार विवरण के अनुसार नैनीताल जिले में 2021 में 168, वर्ष 2022 में 165 और 2023 में मई तक 53 महिलायें गायब हुई हैं। उधमसिंह नगर जिले में क्रमशः 343, 415, 183। इसके अलावा, पिथौरागढ़ जिले में 14, 18 और 7। अल्मोड़ा जिले में 25, 44 और 23, टिहरी जिले में 59, 49 तथा 35। बागेश्वर जिले में 34, 26 तथा 12। पौड़ी जिले में 43, 58 तथा 19।
उत्तरकाशी जिले में 34, 23 तथा 15, देहरादून जिले में वर्ष 2021 में 364, वर्ष 2022 में 430 तथा 2023 में मई तक 163 महिलायें, हरिद्वार जिले में क्रमशः 339, 314 तथा 169, चमोली में 31, 26 तथा 14, चम्पावत जिले में 23, 48 तथा 25, रूद्रप्रयाग जिले में 14, 15 तथा 10 तथा रेलवे क्षेत्र (जी.आर.पी. अन्तर्गत) में वर्ष 2021 में 3, 2022 में 1 तथा 2023 में मई तक शून्य गुमशुदा महिला दर्ज हुई है।
गुमशुदा बालिकाओं के जिलावार विवरण के अनुसार नैनीताल जिले में 2021 में 74, वर्ष 2022 में 63, वर्ष 2023 में मई तक 17 बालिकाएं गुमशुदा दर्ज हुई हैं जबकि जिला उधमसिंह नगर में क्रमशः 133, 146 तथा 49, पिथौरागढ़ में 17, 22 तथा 15, अल्मोड़ा जिले में 10, 13 तथा 9, टिहरी जिले में 23, 18 तथा 12, बागेश्वर जिले में 8, 8 तथा 2, पौड़ी जिले में 5, 8 तथा 7, उत्तरकाशी जिले में 5, 3, तथा 2, देहरादून जिले में वर्ष 2021 में 30 बालिकायें, 2022 में 9 तथा 2023 में मई तक 80 बालिकायें गुमशुदा दर्ज हुई हैं। हरिद्वार जिले में क्रमशः 81, 103 तथा 95, चमोली जिले में 8, 9 तथा 5, चम्पावत जिले में 9, 17 तथा 8, रूद्रप्रयाग जिले में 1, 6 तथा 3, रेलवे क्षेत्र (जी.आर.पी.) में इस अवधि में केवल 2023 में मई तक 1 बालिका गुमशुदा दर्ज हुई हैं।