RTI activist files complaint in SIC against HPCL

Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Friday, 03 July 2015.

An RTI activist has filed a complaint with the State Information Commission (SIC) against the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HLCL) for observing in breach of its previous order to allow him to inspect its dumping sites in the summer capital.

The RTI activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat said he had filed application on May 13, 2014 before Senior Regional Manager HPCL who is also its Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to seek details of retail LPG outlets allotted in various areas of Srinagar from 2011 to May 2014. Bhat had asked for permission to inspect LPG dumping sites in Srinagar under the provisions of section 2 (i) of J&K RTI Act, 2009. “However, I was denied the permission and was also not provided requisite information. Later I filed 1st appeal before the First Appellate Authority (FAA) Executive Director LPG , HPCL. The appeal was not heard by the FAA and the case landed in State Information Commission.

Bhat said on January 16 this year, the SIC directed HPCL to allow inspection of its LPG dumping sites in Srinagar by him under the provisions of State RTI Act.

“Ironically, the HPCL has shown its utmost disrespect to the Right to Information Act (RTI) by not implementing the orders of the Jammu State Information Commission which had directed the Corporation’s Regional Office Jammu to allow me inspection of LPG dumping sites in Srinagar.  This is open violation of the law by a public authority who shows disrespect to the state law.  I have filed a complaint against HPCL before the SIC for non- compliance of its orders. HPCL must allow me  to inspect its LPG dumping sites and the section 2 (i) of State RTI Act guarantees me this right which has been authenticated by the Information Commission as well “ Dr Muzaffar added.