Info chief asked to check fake RTI applications

The Times of India: Jaipur: Saturday, December 08, 2012.

The Rajasthan high court has asked the chief information commissioner to issue necessary directions for checking fake applications under the RTI Act.

The single judge bench of Justice M Rafiq issued an interim advisory to the CIC to consider issuing some directives to filter pseudo applicants by seeking identity proofs. The order came on a petition filed by the Jaipur National University.

It was contended by the university that the CIC has asked the university to provide information to an applicant whose identity was not disclosed. Later it was found that the name was fictitious and the address was fake and the university denied information but it has now been asked by the commission to supply the info sought.

"We are receiving a large number of complaints in this regard. It is being seen that information in fictitious name and fake addresses is being sought. There is no check on such frivolous applications. The CIC may consider issuing some interim directives to ask all information officers to insist on identity proof in form of ration card or some other proof," observed the bench.

The bench also stayed the order of the information commission which bound the university to provie information and issued notices to the chief information officer to file his response on the matter within a period of two weeks.