DNA:
Mumbai: Wednesday, November 07, 2012.
Chetan
Kothari, 60, had no idea he would be overcharged for seeking information about
a vehicle which hit his parked car.
When he filed
an RTI application, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) asked him to pay Rs50
when any information under the Act should be made available for Rs2.
Kothari’s
6-month-old car was parked outside his Breach Candy home when a speeding car
hit it.
Though the
offender sped away, the car’s number was noted. “I applied to the RTO to get
the name of the owner, among other details. I also filed a police complaint and
wanted to know the progress of the investigation,” said Kothari. It would cost
Rs8,500 to repair his damaged car.
Kothari had sought
information of the vehicle that had hit his car and damaged it.To his surprise,
he was asked to pay Rs50 after the public information officer cited that as per
the provisions under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Act, 1989, he will have to
pay the amount. However, under the RTI Act, one should be charged Rs2 for
one-page information.
The RTI Act
is supposed to have an overriding affect on all the other existing Acts that
were formed before it.
In March last
year, the information commission had stated that the provisions of the RTI Act
would prevail. “However, they have overlooked that and have charged as per
their provisions. I will complain to the appellate authority on the issue,”
said Kothari.
VN More,
transport commissioner, said, “The transport department levies charge under
certain rules. If there is a conflict regarding certain provisions, we need to
look into the details. I cannot comment as I do not know the details.”
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