Times
of India: Ahmedabad: Tuesday, 06 April 2021.
After boards warning citizens of criminal action under IPC if obstructing a public servant in discharging his or her duty came up across zonal offices of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), a group of RTI activists sought a copy of the office circular that mandated such boards. The civic body has replied that, “there was no such office circular.” Two RTI applications were filed with the AMC central office in early March demanding a copy of the office circular.
In fact, in the second RTI application, Kalupur resident Pankaj Bhatt sought a reply as to why the mandatory “standard vigilance notice board” informing people to not pay bribes and providing contact details of vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (ACB) helpline were not provided. “The AMC reply clearly stated that there was no office order mandating the IPC board. While on the other hand none of the AMC sub-zonal offices today have basic information on functions and duties and powers of its officers and employees as per Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act,” says Bhatt. Most of the boards have come up at ward offices of various zones.
After boards warning citizens of criminal action under IPC if obstructing a public servant in discharging his or her duty came up across zonal offices of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), a group of RTI activists sought a copy of the office circular that mandated such boards. The civic body has replied that, “there was no such office circular.” Two RTI applications were filed with the AMC central office in early March demanding a copy of the office circular.
In fact, in the second RTI application, Kalupur resident Pankaj Bhatt sought a reply as to why the mandatory “standard vigilance notice board” informing people to not pay bribes and providing contact details of vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (ACB) helpline were not provided. “The AMC reply clearly stated that there was no office order mandating the IPC board. While on the other hand none of the AMC sub-zonal offices today have basic information on functions and duties and powers of its officers and employees as per Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act,” says Bhatt. Most of the boards have come up at ward offices of various zones.
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