OK Sid, Now that you have established your Responsible RTI bonafides, let me give you an example of where I think "photography" could be sought / allowed as part of inspection.
A few months back I visited Agra with family /kid, to show them the monuments. It is an open secret that there is wholesale loot in the restoration works being carried out there - even the Taj Mahal is in danger of losing its World Heritage status due to this corruption. Vast areas of the monuments have been closed off to the public (areas which I had explored as a child myself, but which are denied to mine) to cover up the scandal which even a 5 year old can detect if allowed inside there. Agra is possibly the only place in India where the Municipality charges "road tax" from pedestrians to use the roads within the Taj to fund these restorations. Its a national scandal involving the Agra Municipality and the ASI (Central P/A). Inspection coupled with the right to take "certified samples" of these works.. which THEN leads onto 7(9)being invoked and THEN suggesting photography (advanced digital technology with appellant .. not available to the P/A etc) as an alternative is the way to go for any public spirited citizen interested. In sum, let them come to you rather than the other way about. Inspection via RTI is a very precious right,it cannot be allowed to be frittered away by jokers. As per OSA section 3 "3. Penalties for spying (1) If any person for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State (a) approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of, or enters, any prohibited place; or (b) makes any sketch, plan, model, or note which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy; or (c) obtains, collects, records or publishes or communicates to any other person any secret official code or pass word, or any sketch, plan, model, article or note or other document or information which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy or which relates to a matter the disclosure of which is likely to affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State or friendly relations with foreign States, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend, where the offence is committed in relation to any work of defence, arsenal, naval, military or air force establishment or station, mine, minefield, factory, dockyard, camp, ship or aircraft or otherwise in relation to the naval, military or air force affairs of Government or in relation to any secret official code, to fourteen years and in other cases to three years." Key concept being "inspection .. useful directly or indirectly to the enemy". Sarbajit --- In [email protected], "Sidharth" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Photography is perfectly justified for "inspection" of non-documents > > I am relieved to here this. > > But "kanjoosi". Not really. It is more to do with practicality. > Photography is a costly hobby. > > > depriving the state from it's "further fees" > > I think by alowing me to take photographs the state will rather save money. > > I was not sure about "Spying" part though. I have never thought of that > angle. > > Sidharth >
