Outlook:Tuesday, August 23, 2011.
The Central Information Commission has directed the Environment Ministry to make public documents related to the alleged harassment of an IFS officer by senior Haryana government officials, for exposing several graft cases in the state.
Hearing the petition of a journalist Sumant Bhattacharya, the transparency panel directed the ministry to make public its communication with the Central Vigilance Commission on the issue of alleged harassment of IFS officer Sajiv Chaturvedi.
The panel also ordered the ministry to give details of action taken against the persons found guilty of corruption in the enquiry, regarding financial irregularities in centrally sponsored NAEB/JICA schemes; violation of wildlife laws and orders of Supreme Court; fabrication in the charge sheet of Sanjiv Chaturvedi and his illegal suspension.
Chaturvedi had exposed several cases of graft in the management of forest and wildlife in Haryana. He brought out alleged cases of misappropriation of funds, construction of a canal through wildlife sanctuary and diversion of public funds for private purposes among other.
Due to his persistent efforts in exposing corruption, Chaturvedi was transferred 11 times in four years of his service. But he continued to use the Right to Information to bring out graft details and violations of statutory provisions in the management of forests in Haryana.
Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had constituted a two-member committee to probe the alleged harassment.
Bhattacharya, through his RTI application, wanted to know whether the recommendations of this committee have been accepted and action taken against corrupt officials who tried to harass Chaturvedi and were allegedly involved in graft.
Following the RTI application, the Environment Ministry demanded Rs 1,000 as photocopying charges to furnish the information sought by Bhattacharya but even after payment of the fee the details were not provided to him.
"The PIO states that on April 21, the file had been sent to Central Empowered Committee as per the direction of the minister. Since the file was not with him he has been unable to give the information. From the CEC the file was sent to CVC and now it has been received back from CVC. Hence he states that he was not able to provide the information," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi pointed out.
Directing the ministry to provide entire information sought by Bhattacharya, Gandhi directed it to refund Rs 1,000 charged for photocopying charges and compensate him with another Rs 1,000.
"The Right to Information is a fundamental right to citizens and a PIO must ensure that information is provided within the time stipulated under the RTI Act," he said in the order.
Hearing the petition of a journalist Sumant Bhattacharya, the transparency panel directed the ministry to make public its communication with the Central Vigilance Commission on the issue of alleged harassment of IFS officer Sajiv Chaturvedi.
The panel also ordered the ministry to give details of action taken against the persons found guilty of corruption in the enquiry, regarding financial irregularities in centrally sponsored NAEB/JICA schemes; violation of wildlife laws and orders of Supreme Court; fabrication in the charge sheet of Sanjiv Chaturvedi and his illegal suspension.
Chaturvedi had exposed several cases of graft in the management of forest and wildlife in Haryana. He brought out alleged cases of misappropriation of funds, construction of a canal through wildlife sanctuary and diversion of public funds for private purposes among other.
Due to his persistent efforts in exposing corruption, Chaturvedi was transferred 11 times in four years of his service. But he continued to use the Right to Information to bring out graft details and violations of statutory provisions in the management of forests in Haryana.
Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had constituted a two-member committee to probe the alleged harassment.
Bhattacharya, through his RTI application, wanted to know whether the recommendations of this committee have been accepted and action taken against corrupt officials who tried to harass Chaturvedi and were allegedly involved in graft.
Following the RTI application, the Environment Ministry demanded Rs 1,000 as photocopying charges to furnish the information sought by Bhattacharya but even after payment of the fee the details were not provided to him.
"The PIO states that on April 21, the file had been sent to Central Empowered Committee as per the direction of the minister. Since the file was not with him he has been unable to give the information. From the CEC the file was sent to CVC and now it has been received back from CVC. Hence he states that he was not able to provide the information," Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi pointed out.
Directing the ministry to provide entire information sought by Bhattacharya, Gandhi directed it to refund Rs 1,000 charged for photocopying charges and compensate him with another Rs 1,000.
"The Right to Information is a fundamental right to citizens and a PIO must ensure that information is provided within the time stipulated under the RTI Act," he said in the order.
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