Exemption of water issues from RTI flayed

Deccan Chronicle: Thiruvananthapuram: Tuesday, 05 August 2014.

A controversial order of the water resources department restricting giving  of information related to inter-state water issues under the Right to Information Act has been challenged by RTI activists. The Kerala RTI Federation  filed a petition at the State Information Commission urging that the controversial order should be set aside as it was against the spirit of the RTI Act.

DC had reported on Monday  that additional chief secretary (water resources) V.J. Kurian had issued the order on July 22 restricting divulgence of information pertaining to inter-state water disputes under the Right to Information Act citing that it may hamper the state’s interests. The frequent controversies and embarrassments caused to the state government by documents pertaining to inter-state water affairs  prompted the government to issue such an order which may kick up  a controversy.

RTI activist and Kerala RTI Federation general secretary  D.B. Binu said that the state could only impose restriction on documents and information from intelligence and security organisations.  The inter-state water dispute does not come under this definition and hence the fresh order would not stand. Moreover, the additional chief secretary  has no legal authority to issue such an order, said the petitioner.