RIGHT TO INFORMATION - 2009 - Indian Social Institute

officer (PIO) of AMC, even its appellate authority ordered a site inspection and report. The Gujarat
Information Commission though is not amused. As it has ruled that that Waghela's demand for removal of
unauthorised construction is not within the purview of definition of information' given in RTI. By stating to
the effect that remove unauthorised construction and furnish information', Waghela made a demand
which neither the PIO, nor the appellate authority, nor the GIC has the competence and jurisdiction to do
under RTI. While adding that there is no authority under any functionary in RTI to order for removal of any
unauthorised construction or encroachment, GIC said that at best Waghela could seek a copy of the
notice given for removal of unauthorised construction, copy of the proceedings, file notings on the matter.
GIC noted that AMC's PIO should have simply informed Waghela that his demand does not fall under the
purview of RTI. But with a view to enable public authority to take a proper and correct decision which
could be legally sustained, the PIO had given some information. It also noted that the appellate authority's
ordering the PIO to verify the site and submit a report also was not necessary for the proceedings under
RTI. It was though clarified before GIC that it was done with a view of redressing Waghela's grievances
and at the same time for the requirements under other laws and rules. (Times of India 6/4/09)
Health status of President, PM denied under RTI (1)
New Delhi, pti: The government has refused to disclose information on the health status of prime
ministers and presidents, including details of medical expenses borne for them, under the RTI Act. The
details of their health have been described as classified documents. An applicant, exercising his Right to
Information, had asked the Prime Minister’s Office to give details regarding the health of all the Prime
Ministers and expenditure incurred by the government for their treatment. The application was then
forwarded to the Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, to furnish the information. The
reply from the Director, Emergency and Medical Relief under Directorate-General of Health Services,
said: “As the medical care scheme for the prime minister is a classified document, it is regretted that the
information related to medical care sought cannot be provided as per exemption clause provided in the
Right to Information Act.” However, the response did not mention any specific clause or section of the Act
under which information was denied. The President’s Secretariat also rejected a similar Right to
Information Act application, asking for information on the health status of the President. (Deccan Herald
6/4/09)
RTI Act: prison officials’ lack of knowledge flayed (1)
SALEM: Lamenting “inadequate” knowledge about provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act among
senior prison officials, the Tamil Nadu Information Commission has asked the Inspector General of
Prisons to arrange for their training covering all provisions of the Act. Reacting to a reply from the
Additional Superintendent of Prisons, Salem Central Prison, to a list of 12 queries about facilities
available in the prison sought by human rights activist Poomozhi recently, State Chief Information
Commissioner S. Ramakrishnan pointed out that the replies provided by the official did not fall under any
provisions of the RTI Act. While hearing the petition recently on the issue, the Commissioner observed
that the prison official was “confused” over the applicable provisions of the RTI Act. The Commission
sought an explanation from the official and asked the Inspector General (IG) of Prisons to file a reply
within 4 weeks. The petitioner’s queries were rejected by the prison official on December 3, 2007 on the
ground that jail secrets had to be protected. The official also stated that the petitioner had been jailed a
number of times for a variety of offences, and they were afraid that he might launch agitation, causing a
breach of peace. Hence his application for information was being rejected. The Commission pointed out
that the same set of questions sent to the DG of Prisons, Chennai, received prompt replies. It rapped the
official of the Salem Prison.(The Hindu 9/4/09)
‘Government does not have proper information on agriculture’ (1)
BHUBANESWAR: Planning and Coordination and Agriculture Department lacked dependable information
on growth of agriculture in the State , alleged Citizen Apex Association (CAA), a city-based organisation,
here on Thursday. After delving into replies supplied by two departments in response to a series of its
applications under Right To Information, CAA charged the department had neither any information on
volume of agricultural import to State nor had steady statistics about agriculture production. We had
sought information from Agriculture Department on number of agriculture products being imported, their
volume and steps being taken to produce those products at home. Unfortunately they have no information
on import of agriculture products from other States and hence no step is being taken to produce such