Here is another example of how the media "misquotes" experienced RTI activists like Comd Lokesh Batra.
http://cic.gov.in/CIC-Orders/WB-28072009-02.pdf is the actual CIC order 1) No "fine" was levied on the NCW - in fact the existing fine/penalty assessed against PIOs of Rs.27,050 was dropped. 2) An arbitrary token compensation of Rs 10,000 was allowed to Lokesh (he had demanded 1 lakh but failed to substantiate his claim). 3) By this order for Lokesh, all CPIOs will be able to get off the hook on penalty by claiming "systemic deficiencies" within their organisation. Thank you Lokesh !!! PS: Journos may also note that there is no time limit for registering complaints by the CIC ... "In its decision, the information watchdog, however, chose to remain silent on the delay of over five months by its own officials in registering the complaint of the applicant." Sarbajit --- In [email protected], lokesh batra <batra_lok...@...> wrote: Dear All, The Hindi Newspapers & Sakaal Times Story Links are at the end of following PTI/ZeeNews Story. Best Commodore Lokesh. K. Batra (Retd.) Social & RTI Activist ********************************************************************************************* http://www.zeenews.com/news551223.html CIC fines NCW for not giving info on Nithari The CIC has slapped a fine on the National Commission for Women for not providing complete information pertaining to tours undertaken by its members after the Nithari serial killings to an RTI applicant. In its decision, the information watchdog, however, chose to remain silent on the delay of over five months by its own officials in registering the complaint of the applicant. Criticising the NCW, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said, "Institutions of this nature established to fulfill a basic need of a democratic society, can in their functioning provide merely an illusory service despite even the sincerest endeavours of those at helm." He directed the member secretary NCW to provide compensation of Rs 10,000 to RTI applicant (Retd) Commodore Lokesh Batra who had demanded compensation of Rs one lakh from NCW for the "time, money and the physical and mental torture and harassment" suffered by him for almost 18 months. Batra had approached the Central Information Commission seeking directions to NCW to provide complete information sought by him on his RTI application. But despite the directions of CIC in August last year, information was not provided to Batra prompting him to file a complaint of "contempt of CIC's orders" with Habibullah. The Commissioner on September 12, 2008 ordered that Batra's complaint be registered as a fresh case and directed the CIC officials to seek comments of NCW within 15 days of the order but the officials registered the case only after five months -- on February 18, 2009. During the hearing of the case in June this year, Batra also demanded a sum of Rs 25,000 as compensation from the Central Information Commission for "additional delay" of over five months caused by it. While Chief Information Commissioner was critical of NCW, he did not mention a single word about the inefficiency of CIC officials who took five months to register the case. "Lokesh Batra has indeed been put to a great deal of inconvenience in seeking information which is due to any citizen and he is therefore justified in claiming loss and detriment arising from delays and insufficiency in providing of information simply because... NCW has failed to live up to its responsibilities," Habibullah said. Bureau Report ****************************************************************************** Similar Stories have also been published by Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Navbharat Times and Sakaal Times. 1. For Daink Jagran story pls click on Link below : http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/local/uttarpradesh/4_1_5664096.html 2. For Sakaal Times story click Link below : http://epaper.sakaaltimes.com/ST/ST/2009/07/30/ArticleHtmls/30_07_2009_003_014.shtml?Mode=1 3. For Navbharat Times Story: http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4835195.cms Pls go ahead and click on the links above to read above media stories. ************************************************************************************ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --- End forwarded message ---
