Times
of India: Coimbatore: Tuesday, 05 January 2016.
Several
anti-corruption activists in the city on Sunday alleged that the civic body was
not providing information under RTI Act. They pointed out that the corporation
has either denied information or not replied to their petitions seeking
information about the works carried out, CUG phone bill details of councillors,
building approvals and other details. This, the RTI activists further said,
despite the court directing the officials to answer our queries.
"There
are several instances where we have filed RTIs and never got any reply. Even
after obtaining favourable order from the high court, the officials hardly give
us any reply," said Durai Kumaravel, secretary, anti-corruption movement.
In most
cases, he said, the civic body denies information. "In one case,
corporation commissioner had ordered concerned officials to provide
information, but it fell on deaf ears. We had to move the court then,"
said Durai.
Daniel
Jesudas, an RTI activist who crusades for the Vellalore dump yard issue, said
he had filed several RTI applications seeking just basic details. "In one
application, I asked for the qualification details of engineers working with
the civic body. In another, I sought the bill details of the CUG numbers used
by ward councillors as government money was involved in it. I had also sought
details of funds sanctioned to the city mayor and ward councillors. But I was
not given any reply. I will file an appeal soon," he said.
"I do
not understand why the corporation is denying the information when in reality
these should be made public on the website," Daniel wondered. It, he
further said, points to some irregularities in the functioning of the civic
body.
V
Ramamoorthy, another RTI activist, meanwhile, said it was easier to get
information from panchayat officials. "From my experience, any information
that is not controversial and would not attract negative publicity is easily
provided. But information is held back when corruption is involved and there
are irregularities. The purpose of RTI then gets defeated," he said.
Members of
the anti-corruption movement said they had staged several protests against the
civic body's indifference when it comes to replying RTIs. "We will protest
again if this continues," said Durai.
Vivasaayigal
Sangam (nonpolitical) president Kandhasamy had taken up the issue with the
former commissioner of information commission and sought an explanation for
denying information under RTI Act and why officials were not penalised for
denying information. "The commissioner replied that they had administrative
issues and the officials could not be penalised," said Kandhasamy.
Senior
corporation officials, however, said they have always forwarded the petitions
to concerned officials as and when they reached them.
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