In landmark order, SRA housing brought under RTI

DNA: Mumbai: Thursday, January 25, 2018.

In a landmark order that will help ensure transparency in the redevelopment of slums and functioning of housing societies under Slum Rehabilitation scheme, they have now been brought under the transparency law. The State Information Commission (SIC) has declared these to be public authorities as per section 2 (h) of the RTI Act.

In a month’s time, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has been asked to appoint a public information officer (PIO) from the society and an officer not below the rank of assistant registrar as the first appellate authority (FAA). A PIO not giving timely information could be fined up to a maximum of Rs 25,000. They will have to pay the fine from their own pocket. 

Often, lack of transparency in names of eligible beneficiaries in annexure two and post possession running has led to allegations of corruption and eligible people being left out.

The order was passed on December 19, 2017 on an application made by Jayprakash Pagdhare by Ajit Kumar Jain, state chief information commissioner (additional charge). Pagdhare had sought details of the total number of flats in his society. “They have been giving wrong details of the total number of flats. I filed an RTI application so that there is more transparency,” said Pagdhare.

During the hearing, the society said it is not covered under the RTI Act. Citing an SC order which has dealt with the issue of co-operatives coming under RTI, the state information commission dealt with the definition of the public authority as per RTI.

The commission stated that the societies come under RTI for three reasons - they get various benefits for the SRA scheme to be implemented, including extra FSI; they get Rs 20,000 as maintenance per flat and a house cannot be sold for 10 years.

“I haven’t read the order. If the reasons are given as to why societies are public authorities, the order is indeed very good. It will help bring transparency that is required,” said Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner.