Times of India: Dehradun: Sunday,
September 21, 2025.
Chief information commissioner (CIC) of the Uttarakhand Information Commission, Radha Raturi, criticised the assembly secretariat for "serious negligence" in handling RTI-related documents while hearing an appeal concerning independent MLA Umesh Kumar's alleged violation of the anti-defection law. Raturi directed the deputy secretary to provide complete information to the appellant within a month and to properly resolve the first appeal.
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The appeal was
filed by Jaipal Singh of Jan Sangharsh Morcha, who sought information from the
assembly secretariat regarding a petition on Kumar's anti-defection law
violation. Singh said his letter was sent via registered mail, but the
secretariat claimed that it was never received. The commission described this
conduct as "serious and objectionable", noting that RTI applications
and first appeals are not being adequately maintained within the secretariat.
Raghunath Singh Negi, president of Jan Sangharsh Morcha, alleged that Speaker Ritu Khanduri acted defensively in the defection case. He claimed that no action was taken on the petition for over two and a half years, despite multiple letters sent via registered mail to the Speaker and secretary. The assembly secretariat attributed the failure to verbal instructions and alleged pressure.
In her order dated Sept 11, Raturi ordered the assembly secretariat to probe the matter and to develop robust rules for the disposal of RTI applications and first appeals in the future. She mandated that all actions taken be reported back to the commission.
In 2022, Umesh Kumar, an independent MLA from Khanpur, had announced the formation of a new party.
Chief information commissioner (CIC) of the Uttarakhand Information Commission, Radha Raturi, criticised the assembly secretariat for "serious negligence" in handling RTI-related documents while hearing an appeal concerning independent MLA Umesh Kumar's alleged violation of the anti-defection law. Raturi directed the deputy secretary to provide complete information to the appellant within a month and to properly resolve the first appeal.
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Raghunath Singh Negi, president of Jan Sangharsh Morcha, alleged that Speaker Ritu Khanduri acted defensively in the defection case. He claimed that no action was taken on the petition for over two and a half years, despite multiple letters sent via registered mail to the Speaker and secretary. The assembly secretariat attributed the failure to verbal instructions and alleged pressure.
In her order dated Sept 11, Raturi ordered the assembly secretariat to probe the matter and to develop robust rules for the disposal of RTI applications and first appeals in the future. She mandated that all actions taken be reported back to the commission.
In 2022, Umesh Kumar, an independent MLA from Khanpur, had announced the formation of a new party.
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