*IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT OF THE STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER OF MADHYA
PRADESH*
On the fourth anniversary of the Right to Information Act, while on the one
hand a review is being carried out about all aspects of the Act, on the
other, the statements of the Chief Information Commissioner and the
information commissioner have raised serious doubts. In a statement given to
the *Hindustan Times* on 13/10/2009 the Information Commission has claimed
that 50 percent of the social activists and NGOs are misusing the right to
information. This extremely irresponsible statement of the State
Information Commission shows that there is a conspiracy to weaken, malign or
discredit the campaign for the right to information which is gaining
strength. This controversial statement has been given in the context of
those people who have asked for such information which relates to the
deprived and which is likely to harm the ruling partys equations.
Apart from this, these activists have had the audacity on many occasions to
raise questions on other matters also, pertaining to the working of the
State Information Commission.
The Information Commissioner has nowhere clarified intentions regarding
bureaucrats and officers to implement Right to information act whereas he
has raised questions regarding those who have put in a long struggle for
bringing in the Act for the right to information. If the intention of the
government had been honorable then the social workers would not have had to
struggle for bringing and implementation of the act and the government would
have come onward, on its own, to bring in transparency on their working. But
this is something they have not done.
In the past three years the state information commissioners have ignored
many serious cases and impose penalty to merely 13 people. Even now many
such cases exist where people are unable to get information in spite of the
rulings of the state information commission.
The Chief Information Commissioner and Information commissioner of State
information commission regard the right to expression and those who use this
right as a challenge in democracy. This raises serious questions and issues
regarding the working of the State Information Commission.
*We demand that *
[image: *] *Let the Chief Information Commissioner ( Shri P.P.Tiwari )
and the Information Commissioner ( Shri D.C. Jugran) , clarify as to which
NGOs and social activists have made efforts to blackmail or to collaborate
with officers or contractors as mentioned in their statements. Let the names
of these organizations or individuals be made public.*
*[image: *]** **The state information commissioner should withdraw his
statement.*
*[image: *]** **He should give an assurance that in future no such
allegation will be made.*
On this fourth anniversary of the Right to Information Act it is extremely
shameful on the part of the Chief Information Commissioner and the other
commissioner to give out such statements. It is our request that all of you
may please give your reactions on this statement through letters, phones,
sms, emails and fax.
*The address and phone numbers of the State Information Commission and the
Chief Information Commissioner are as follows:*
*State Information Commission, Madhya Pradesh,*
Nirvachan Bhavan, 2nd Floor,
Arera Hills, BHOPAL (M.P.)
Pin code 462011
Phone & Fax: 0755-2761367
Shri P.P. Tiwari,
State Chief Information Commissioner
Mobile 94250 14901
Shri D.C. Jugran,
Information Commissioner,
Mobile: 098933 33222
*NEWS --*
*Hindustan** Times*
*Tuesday October 13, 2009*
* RTI being used to settle scoresPeople with Vested interests file 50%
application, say state Information commissioner*
Bhopal; It might be a weapon for the common man to take on the unrelenting
government machinery, but if the authorities are to be filed, the provisions
of RTI act are being increasingly ,misused by a large number of persons for
settling personal disputes.
State Information commissioner, PP Tiwari concedes that those having some
personal agenda or vested interest file over 50 percent of applications
coming before the commission.
Talking to Hindustan times Tiwari said that many times the privileges given
by the RTI act are used by some citizens to harass or black mail government
officials, contractors,. In fact, less awareness among people with vested
interest to misuse RTI, he said.
Tiwari added, RTI is misused for political and economic gains. Some
applicants, who are over fifty percent in the commission, are misusing the
information. We cant deny the fact that anti social elements have found
RTI the perfect tool for extortion, he added.
The very Tenets of transparency, natural justice and fair play mooted by
the RTI act have been defeated to some extent by its misuse.
Some NGOs and social activist had gone overboard and used the Act to harass
government officials, said the state information commissioner. However, the
fear of RTI is also doing its magic as a result of which many people started
giving information, he added. When this attention was drawn towards the
indifferent attitude of Public Information officers (PIOs), he said that
people started giving information on time owing to the fear of the act.
Information commissioner DC Jugran also echoed his views about misuse of RTI
talking to Hindustan times Jugran said some NGOs along with those people of
vested interest hijacked the Act. Unfortunately the RTI was being
increasingly used for grievance redressal thus misusing the entire purpose
of the act he added.
The act is not a mechanism to get revenge or settle scores. It is for
public interest and not for personal gain, said Jugran. There are people
who have made filing RTI application ob behalf of other persona into a money
making business, he revealed. While some people, who are very prompt in
filing appeals and complaints have identified some department whereas others
are focusing on some districts, Jugran said adding that on some occasions
NGOs also trying to influence decisions. That is why; he said the act failed
to unearth any big corruption issues in the state.
ROLLY SHIVHARE/PRASHANT DUBEY
JAANO RE ABHIYAAN
9425466461/9425026331
BHOPAL
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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