After two years of struggle, he used RTI and got a job

Vijaysinh Parmar   TNN

Junagadh: This man smashed the walls of the charity commissioner’s office using RTI, paving the way for many unemployed commerce graduates in the state for a career as ‘authorised auditors’. After two years of persistent struggle Rakesh Shah, 32, found that it was on a mere suggestion by an outgoing commissioner that had led to the charity commissioner office in Ahmedabad turning down per-mission to audit minor trust bodies for qualified persons.

Any commerce graduates with five years experience in a chartered accountancy firm and having cleared the government diploma in co-operation and accountancy (GDC&A) exam, were eligible for this job.

After repeated refusals, Shah filed an RTI in February 2007, seeking reasons as to why applications are being denied. The rule was clear — under Section 32(2) of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950, persons who are not chartered accountants can also be approved by the charity commissioner as authorised auditors.

And, they can then audit accounts of trusts whose income is up to Rs 3,000. Shah wanted to know whether any amendments were made to this law and even sought a copy of the file noting (suggestions of bureaucrats) that may have affected the change and a copy of the notification if the amendment was made.

“There were no amendments to the law, there was no notification, but after an 18-month pursuit I was told that the previous commissioner had made a suggestion in the file noting that commerce graduate should not be allowed to audit accounts till their capabilities are thoroughly scrutinised. The charity commissioner’s office instead of scrutinising applications conveniently, threw them in the dustbin. This was pure denial of our right,” says Shah.

Armed with the copy of the file noting, Shah approached the legal department of the state asking whether the charity commissioner’s file noting affected change in the law. The legal department immediately contacted the charity commissioner’s office. In June last year, Shah was awarded authorised auditor for three years in two districts.

‘Since last July, I have earned at least Rs 40,000 through this work. Thanks to RTI. I today, advice many young unemployed commerce graduates to start applying for authorised auditorship.’’ Shah proudly says.

Shah had spent two years seeking a certificate for the GDC&A examination which was held in November 2003. Its results were announced in May 2005.

“But officials were not giving my certificate. Despite several calls and visits to Gandhinagar, I was told to come later. I needed this certificate to get a job as panel auditor in my district. It was then that I filed an RTI application in March 2006. Within 30 days I received this certificate. I owe my entire career to RTI,’’ says Shah.