Times of India: Nagpur: Monday,
June 13, 2016.
The
department of social justice and special assistance, under the ministry of
social welfare, seems to have misinterpreted rules for not supplying sensitive
information under RTI Act.
City RTI
activist Abhay Kolarkar had on March 28 sought information on various schemes
run by the department of social justice and special assistance and details
about the beneficiaries, corruption cases involved and action taken thereon,
among other issues. However, the public information officer (PIO) with the
department of social justice at administrative building, Civil Lines, replied
that the information on various schemes cannot be provided as it is beyond 150
words.
Interestingly,
the RTI rule of 150 words is applicable to asking questions and not answers.
"You cannot ask questions beyond 150 words. It seems the social justice
department, which is itself denying justice, needs to be given lessons in RTI
Act," said Kolarkar. The information officer was trying to mislead by not
supplying information, he added.
Kolarkar
alleged that as the information sought is sensitive and may expose the
department, the officer deliberately asked to file a separate RTI application
for the purpose.
Kolarkar
appealed against the information officer's reply on May 2, for which a hearing
was slated for May 30 at 11am. However, the appellate officer was conspicuous
by his absence and the hearing was postponed. "I was told that the
appellate officer was absent as he had to go out for some administrative work.
Supplying RTI information is also an administrative work," said Kolarkar.
Now the
information officer has slated the hearing on Monday. Surprisingly, the time of
the hearing has not been mentioned. "This is being done simply to avoid
supplying information," alleged Kolarkar.
When the RTI
activist sought to know why the time was not mentioned, the information officer
told Kolarkar that it is not being mentioned as the appellate authority may or
may not be available.
"It is
shocking how the social justice department is casually treating RTI
applications," said Kolarkar.
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