A thousand RTIs in one shot

Bangalore Mirror: Bangalore: Thursday, 08 October 2015.

Activist's fusillade to BBMP breaks own previous record of 600; says he aims to bring to fore the flaws in working of civic agencies.

In a curious case, a single person filed 968 RTI (Right to Information) applications to the BBMP all at one time. A 58-year-old civil engineer, Naresh Kumar S, broke his previous record of 600-plus RTI applications. He is said to have filed over 10,000 RTI applications so far. Kumar said his application numbers range between 50 and 300 in order to assess the efficiency of the system. He claimed RTI was an effective tool to redress common men's grievances by bringing the executive wing under the scanner, as opposed to legislative or judicial routes which were beyond commoners' reach.

Kumar also made news when one of his applications bore Arnold Schwarzenegger's blindfolded image. Each in his most recent set of 968 applications, pertain to aspects of the functioning of the BBMP departments. Kumar, while applying a department information request, made it a point that almost all sections with respective responsibilities they handle are covered and the information obtained exposed the department's inefficiency. Besides his own cases, Kumar also applies on behalf of others who approach him seeking help. Kumar claimed he took up cases only after being convinced a person was being victimised due systemic delay.

"RTI is an effective tool for two reasons. First, it helps assess efficiency of a department or a system, and secondly, it helps people get justice through information. My method helps in speedy delivery of information. However, when it's not my case and somebody comes to me asking me to get information, I make sure I have three aspects cleared - first, one is a genuine victim. Second, they should produce proof of being victimised. Third, I need proof of the culprit's relationship. Once I'm convinced, I take up the case and don't budge to pressure," he added.

So far, Kumar has sought information from all civil departments including BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, BESCOM, police, labour and revenue to expose flaws in their functioning. He added that denial of information usually meant hefty fines for the concerned departments. 

"After I file application, I'm called by parties for negotiations. But I never entertain these requests. Instead, I ask them to send me a detailed communique explaining the need, place, time and people involved. After I meet somebody, I get an acknowledgement on the same to ensure there is no foul play," Kumar added. Fellow activists said Kumar's was a fair, reasonable and legal route that helped educate both people and officials on the effectiveness of the RTI. "His cases reaching the commission are less.

Officials volunteer and provide the requisite information and justice is done for the applicant," Pramod Halkatti, an activist told Bangalore Mirror.

Why the delay?

The police have obtained the address of driver from RTO. However, the vehicle is registered in the name of a woman. The police are also finding it difficult to trace the driver's residence as the address is convoluted. "We have to deploy men in the area and find the driver. There is no technical support to crack the case," said an official who did not want to be named.