The Indian Express: Chandigarh: Monday, September 18, 2017.
RTI activist
Kapoor says, “The prisoners who are graduate or post-graduate fall under the
category of B Class, who are entitled for better facilities than of General
Category in the jail. I have also sought information regarding educational
qualification of the dera chief.”
Jail authorities
in Haryana have sought consent of jailed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to disclose
information regarding his dress, food, bed and furniture being provided to him
by the jail administration in a Rohtak jail under the RTI Act. RTI activist P P
Kapoor, who had sought information regarding expenditure on these facilities,
has accused the jail administration of “knowingly delaying the information”.
In his
application under Right to Information Act, Kapoor had sought details about the
menu of food items, including breakfast, being served to Ram Rahim. The
activist also wants to know the category, B Class or General Category, under
which the facilities are being provided to Ram Rahim. Kapoor says, “The
prisoners who are graduate or post-graduate fall under the category of B Class,
who are entitled for better facilities than of General Category in the jail. I
have also sought information regarding educational qualification of the dera
chief.”
The activist
has also sought information even regarding utensils and chairs, if any,
provided to the dera chief inside the jail. The RTI application was submitted
on August 31, six days after the controversial baba was lodged in the jail
after his conviction under rape charges.
On September
8, the Jail Superintendent sent a letter to Ram Rahim asking his consent under
Section 11 of the RTI Act within a week. Ram Rahim has been asked whether the
information be provided to the applicant. A copy of the letter has been sent to
Kapoor for information.
However,
Kapoor says, “The Section 11 of the RTI Act deals with personal information of
third party (the person concerned) like the details of property, educational
degrees and bank accounts. But I have not sought any such personal information.
I simply sought information about the facilities which are being provided by
the government to the prisoners. When the government claims that no extra
facilities are being provided to the dera chief, what’s harm in disclosing the
information? If the officials don’t provide the information within stipulated
time period, I will approach the Haryana State Information Commission.”
A senior jail
officer, requesting anonymity, said, “Ram Rahim faces threats from various
quarters. We will supply the information after due consideration.”
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