The Hindu: Mysuru: Thursday, 8Th May 2025.
Alleges that some RTI activists directly approach case workers, and manage to extract information from them, instead of obtaining information from the designated information officer
JD(S) leader and former
Minister S. R. Mahesh called upon the authorities to act against the alleged
menace of RTI activists in Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on May 6, Mr. Mahesh alleged that certain RTI activists regularly visit MUDA, approach case workers, and obtain information from official files by intimidating them. The information is then misused, he alleged.
“There may be upright RTI activists, but some of them have made it a habit to visit the MUDA more regularly than the MUDA officials themselves,” he claimed. “Instead of obtaining information from the designated information officer, these RTI activists directly approach the case workers, and manage to extract information from them.”
He appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Lakshmikant Reddy, who is also the Chairman of MUDA, the Commissioner of MUDA and the Minister for Urban Development to immediately act against the alleged misuse of official information. He also urged the City Police Commissioner to take note of the matter and take corrective steps, lest the law-and-order situation is ruined.
Mr. Mahesh said the MUDA should install CCTV cameras in all the chambers and ensure that no case worker is allowed to be intimated by RTI activists to show them official files. “If case workers are troubled by RTI activists, a case should be booked against such persons,” he said.
The JD(S) leader said a few RTI activists were also boasting that they had intimated the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Recalling his tenure as Chairman of MUDA, Mr. Mahesh said nobody was allowed into the premises till 3 p.m. while entry of brokers into the premises was banned.
“If the authorities do not take necessary steps in 15 days, I will organise a protest in front of the MUDA,” Mr. Mahesh warned.
Alleges that some RTI activists directly approach case workers, and manage to extract information from them, instead of obtaining information from the designated information officer
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| JD(S) leader and former MLA S. R. Mahesh addressing a press conference in Mysuru on May 6, 2025. Photo Credit: M A Sriram |
Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on May 6, Mr. Mahesh alleged that certain RTI activists regularly visit MUDA, approach case workers, and obtain information from official files by intimidating them. The information is then misused, he alleged.
“There may be upright RTI activists, but some of them have made it a habit to visit the MUDA more regularly than the MUDA officials themselves,” he claimed. “Instead of obtaining information from the designated information officer, these RTI activists directly approach the case workers, and manage to extract information from them.”
He appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Lakshmikant Reddy, who is also the Chairman of MUDA, the Commissioner of MUDA and the Minister for Urban Development to immediately act against the alleged misuse of official information. He also urged the City Police Commissioner to take note of the matter and take corrective steps, lest the law-and-order situation is ruined.
Mr. Mahesh said the MUDA should install CCTV cameras in all the chambers and ensure that no case worker is allowed to be intimated by RTI activists to show them official files. “If case workers are troubled by RTI activists, a case should be booked against such persons,” he said.
The JD(S) leader said a few RTI activists were also boasting that they had intimated the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Recalling his tenure as Chairman of MUDA, Mr. Mahesh said nobody was allowed into the premises till 3 p.m. while entry of brokers into the premises was banned.
“If the authorities do not take necessary steps in 15 days, I will organise a protest in front of the MUDA,” Mr. Mahesh warned.
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