Activist moves SIC as GMC PIO refuses information

TNN, Feb 25, 2011,

PANAJI: With the public information officer (PIO) of the Goa Medical College and hospital refusing to give information regarding Cipriano Fernandes' alleged custodial death, human rights activist Jowett D'Souza has approached the State Information Commission (SIC).

Despite an order passed by the appellate authority to furnish the information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the PIO has provided information to only a few of the 12 questions asked.

In his application before the SIC, D'Souza has said, "The information has been deliberately denied to protect the corrupt police officers who are in collusion with the doctors of Goa Medical College and hospital and want to cover up the wrong doings and their misdeeds from getting exposed to the public in the custodial death of Cipriano Fernandes."

D'Souza said information about Cipriano's admission and treatment at the hospital, his case papers, etc, have not been furnished.

"This act of the opponent is malafide and contrary to the provisions of the RTI Act 2005," he added in his complaint to SIC.