Financial Express: New Delhi: Wednesday,
August 17, 2016.
The Central
Information Commission has issued a show cause notice to two scientists of the
Environment Ministry for not following its orders to proactively disclose
minutes of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee meeting on genetically
modified mustard.
“In case of
biosafety data being sought, the resolution of the issue with the crop
developer should have been over by now and all data shared in public domain.
The matter is of great urgency since more and more evidence is emerging on the
regulators’ failures and by not sharing all data, they are concealing their
failures from citizens,” Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said.
On the plea
of activist Kavitha Kuruganti, CIC had ordered the Environment Ministry to
proactively make public the data related to genetically modified plants as it
was in larger public interest, a clause which over rides exemptions from
disclosure under the RTI Act.
But the
Environment Ministry officials sought more time from putting the data on their
website.
“Apart from
the issue of third party related processes is a fairly simple matter of the
regulators putting on the website their meeting agenda and full minutes. Their
website shows that they do not do this, despite assurances in the CIC hearing
and CIC Orders,” Acharyulu said.
He said the
public authority did not honour its own commitment to furnish the details and
on June 28, 2016 they sought another extension, this time for 90 days.
“To furnish a
copy of a report or to place the agenda and minutes of GEAC meeting, they need
no time at all. They are just asking for time though they do not require it,”
he noted.
Acharyulu
said the officials failed to give any specific time for furnishing the details.
“They are
holding and controlling the copy of report, resolution, agenda and minutes.
Their plea that they are awaiting for final decision is not tenable as that is
against RTI Act and Public interest…The Commission views that such tactics are
only to delay but not serious requirement for giving. By this they will only
harm public interest and facilitate to promote some interest, not desirable,”
he said.
Acharyulu
said the Ministry is attempting to keep vital information out of public discussion.
“It amounts
to prevention of Constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression
of the appellant, who are interested in discussing the pros and cons of GMO
related issues of GM Mustard, which if permitted would cause serious impact on
the public health of consumers in large scale,” the Information Commissioner
pointed out.
Achayulu
issued a show cause notice to P Saranya and Madhumita Biswas, both scientists,
why maximum penalty should not be imposed against each of them for noncompliance
of Section 4(1)(b) even when such information was rightly sought and directed
to be provided under Section 3 and 6 of RTI Act as not hit by Section 8(1).
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