DNA: New Delhi: Tuesday, January
24, 2017.
After raising
several RTI queries and repeated follow ups over four months, Ahmednagar
resident Ganesh Borhade, who was seeking details of a doctor from the
Maharashtra Council for Indian Medicine (MCIM), has finally got some relief.
The State
Information Commission has ordered the MCIM to provide details of a doctor
requested by the applicant.
The order was
given by state chief information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad as a result of
seven complaints filed by Borhade.
As per
information in the order of the commission, Borhade has accused and complained
to the authorities about the doctor for violating the Pre-Conception and
Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of sex selection) (PCPNDT) Act.
The
complainant is seeking details on the doctor, whose book on Ayurvedic
guidelines for to-be parents also mentioned ‘tips to conceive a son’. A case
registered against the doctor was, however, struck down by the Aurangabad Bench
of Bombay High Court on grounds that the said objectionable content in the book
are not the author’s own creation but are expressed based upon quotations of
ancient books on ayurveda.
The RTI
applicant had sought registration details of the doctor, documents given by him
for registration and also the documents provided by him to renew his
registration, and submitted papers by the said doctor under which he changed
his name to practice.
Citing that
it was a matter concerning life and death, and of public interest, the
commission ordered MCIM to give the information to the applicant. The order
also asks why the public information officer should not be fined.
MCIM
regulates policies for practitioners of Ayurvedic, Siddh and Unani medicine.
Every doctor who practices these branches of medicine has to register with the council.
“When I first
put an application, the public information officer did not give any response. I
was told that the information is voluminous and that I will have to come to
collect it. When I went, I was directed to meet a senior officer, who also
declined to provide information. Even after the CIC order, I am yet to get all
the information,” said Borhade.
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