Officials find excuses to deny RTI requests

Times of India: Madurai: Saturday, 23 August 2014.

Transport, revenue and health departments in Madurai district are becoming increasingly cagey about answering RTI queries, say activists. They say that officials come up with various excuses for denying information. Activists ask that the State Information Commission should crack the whip on erring officials.

When child lifting cases took place inside Government Rajaji Hospital recently, it was found that the closed circuit TV cameras installed were not producing good quality images. "I filed RTI applications simultaneously at Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital at Chennai and GRH. While I got a proper reply from Chennai hospital, GRH refused to provide me with the information citing security reasons. I do not know how this is a security issue," said C Anandaraj, an activist.

"We have filed 100s of RTI applications but it is rare for us to get any answers within the first month of filing the RTI, which is the rule. We have to pester the officials for months before we get any information," said Henri Tiphagne, a human rights activist.

Activists say that officials often give the excuse that they don't have the time to dig up the answers. They add that there must be deterrent punishment for not giving information, only then will officials comply with RTI requests promptly, activists say.K Arumugam, an RTI activist, said that he has had trouble getting information from departments like revenue, transport, adi dravida, backward classes and minority department and rural development. Madurai police department has been more responsive, he adds. "Often, I had to go for appeals to the appellate authorities and sometimes took up the matter with higher officials in Chennai to get the details," he said.

Similarly information relating to infant mortality at the Rajaji hospital and other health status of infants are held under wraps. "But the hospital gave the information when I got my friends to apply for me. They probably refused to provide me the information fearing I would use the information in public interest litigation against them," said Annadurai.

When contacted a higher official from the revenue department, the officer said, "We are following the rules and are providing the available details. An average of 50 to 60 applications are cleared regularly. Last year, we cleared 6,600 petitions in revenue alone. Pubic are now very aware and we cannot escape from the appeal. There is a forum to review us."