Post-it notes help babus cover tracks in case of RTI query

TNN, Sep 3, 2010,

HYDERABAD: A steady rise in awareness levels about the Right to Information Act (RTI) among the general public has forced babus to use multi-coloured stick-notes (small glued sheets or post-its) on all files and petitions processed at the state secretariat. This way, there will neither be any record of favouritism nor evidence of any irregularity in speedy clearance of a certain file as all the notes can be removed in case of an RTI query.

By rule, "no file can be circulated without notings at various levels. Of late, we are seeing files endorsed by some ministers or higher officials using the stick-note labels," an officer said. This is common in revenue-generating departments like revenue, industries, IT, municipal administration and urban development, roads and buildings. These sticknotes are available in regular green, blue, yellow, purple and pink, and fluorescent ones.

A bureaucrat explained, "When you are not clear about what to write or decide on an issue, a stick-note is used as a temporary measure. The ultimate decision has to be written clearly." Sources said, "Colour coding indicates that a specific file is being perused by a particular minister/officer (obviously with a vested interest).

A particular coloured stick-note label is affixed to the file so that it is not handled by anyone else," a mid-level bureaucrat revealed. However, the significance of coloured pens still holds. Any noting in black usually means negative, blue means neutral, green means clear and magenta means relaxation of rules.