DNA: Mumbai: Wednesday, 09 July 2014.
The state
information commission has ordered that documents pertaining to tenancy rights
and ownership of a private hospital on Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
plot be given to an RTI applicant. The order was given on June 26.
RTI applicant
Ramesh Lad had sought details of tenancy rights, ownership details, changes in
rules to allot the plot and rules followed by the Dahisar-based hospital after
allotment. The application was filed in March 2014.
"I had
sought the details because someone told me that the hospital had come up on a
reserved plot which, on priority leasing, could be given to a doctor. However,
it was given to a private developer (not a doctor). The developer did not
construct the hospital for three years. It was finally opened to public in
2009," claimed Lad.
He further
alleged, "There was some problem in the tendering process too. While one
tender stated that it was to be given 6,000 sqmt of land, over 10,000 sqmt was
allotted. I wanted to know the new terms and conditions, the reason and also
the tender documents. However, neither the health department, nor the building
proposal department seemed to be having the information."
While the public
information officer (PIO) stated that the plot was given because the
corporation did not have the money to develop it, further details were not
provided. In his order, the state chief information commissioner, Ratnakar
Gaikwad, stated that while the information was not provided, the applicant was
harassed when called to the office again and again to inspect the documents.
Terming the response of the PIO as "irresponsible", the commission
has ordered that the applicant be provided with the information by July 25. It
has also issued a show-cause notice, asking the civic body PIO why should not
s/he be fined for not providing information.
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