The Times of India: Coimbatore: Wednesday, 12 April 2023.
More than 50 Right to Information (RTI) activists staged a demonstration in front of the South Taluk office in the city on Monday, condemning the state government for failing to furnish information under the Act and failing to appoint a chief information commissioner in the Tamil Nadu Information Commission.
SP Thiyagarajan, the organizer of the Federation of Coimbatore District RTI Activists, said the corporation, municipalities, town panchayats, village panchayats, pollution control board, revenue department, and district town and country planning office had refused to furnish any information and documents sought by the RTI activists.
“As per Section 2 (j) of the RTI act, the activist can inspect the documents and records in person and can collect the certified copies of documents from the information officers. But the officials did not allow RTI activists to inspect the documents. Even if we go for an appeal in the appellate authority, they fail to furnish the document. If we go for a second appellate to the Tamil Nadu Information Commission, the commission orders to furnish the information. But the officials do not obey the orders,” Thiyagarajan said.
Later, the activists met district collector Kranthi Kumar Pati and submitted their demands.
More than 50 Right to Information (RTI) activists staged a demonstration in front of the South Taluk office in the city on Monday, condemning the state government for failing to furnish information under the Act and failing to appoint a chief information commissioner in the Tamil Nadu Information Commission.
SP Thiyagarajan, the organizer of the Federation of Coimbatore District RTI Activists, said the corporation, municipalities, town panchayats, village panchayats, pollution control board, revenue department, and district town and country planning office had refused to furnish any information and documents sought by the RTI activists.
“As per Section 2 (j) of the RTI act, the activist can inspect the documents and records in person and can collect the certified copies of documents from the information officers. But the officials did not allow RTI activists to inspect the documents. Even if we go for an appeal in the appellate authority, they fail to furnish the document. If we go for a second appellate to the Tamil Nadu Information Commission, the commission orders to furnish the information. But the officials do not obey the orders,” Thiyagarajan said.
Later, the activists met district collector Kranthi Kumar Pati and submitted their demands.
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