Publication: Times Of India Delhi; Date:2008 Aug 13; Section:Times Nation; Page Number 13; Himanshi Dhawan | TNN
New Delhi: Are Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi expected to reply to Right to Information queries that are addressed to them in their capacity as Members of Parliament? In a decision that could have far-reaching ramifications, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has decided to ascertain if elected representatives like an MP or MLA can be recognised as a ‘‘public authority’’ in his or her own right.
This follows a growing number of complaints that MPs and MLAs have not been responding to RTI queries regarding their work as public representatives.
UP resident Awadesh Mishra had sought information from Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi related to recommendations made by the latter on assistance to NGOs. When Mishra did not receive any reply, he approached the Lok Sabha secretariat which held that the MP was not a public authority as defined under the RTI Act. The secretariat said the information was not held by it and could only be made available by the MP.
Similar requests for information have been filed by Lucknow residents Girish Chandra Mishra and Radhey Shyam with Rae Bareli MP and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Delhi resident Sartaj Ahmed had sought information from his area MLA Saheb Singh Chauhan regarding development work in his constituency.
However, when there was no satisfactory reply to their queries, the respondents approached the CIC. The commission, on its part, has recognized that a MP has been given specific authority by the Constitution in return for which he receives public funds.
The information watchdog has issued a public notice for opinions on the issue adding that it would take a ‘‘view to decide whether the information sought by these applicants can qualify as information sought under the RTI Act’’. The submissions are expected to be given by August 30 and a hearing is likely to be held in September.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
File RTI appeals on CIC website, but pay via post
New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has introduced online acceptance of RTI appeals and complaints, allowing applicants to file their queries on the Internet. This comes at a time when the Bihar state information commission has already introduced acceptance of applications on the phone and the Centre is planning a call centre as well.
Speaking about the online facility, chief information commission Wajahat Habibullah said, “This will hopefully increase the awareness of RTI and its use. It’s mainly designed for appeals and complaints.” There is a catch, however. If the person is filing for information to the CIC, the RTI query will be accepted but must be followed by a postal order of Rs 10.
Online payments are still a long way off. According to the CIC, the government feared that the system was not strong enough to handle credit card payments. “There is fear of Internet fraud when money transactions are conducted on the net,” admitted Habibullah.
As of now, when applicants log on to the CIC website, the online link will provide them with a form to apply online. The form includes ‘mandatory fields’ like name, address, contact details and the ministry, department or public authority that the appeal is against.
Verification code, citizenship status (whether you are an Indian or NRI) will have to be filled. Other details include if the person has applied to the public information officer (the first official authorised to address the appeal) and whether the issue at hand is a matter of life or liberty.
Applicants can also upload documents relevant to their argument. For the Internet savvy, this is likely to save time and resources. But the most to benefit from this are people living outside Delhi and Indians abroad who do not have to depend on the postal department to file their complaints. Habibullah said he had already received complaints online and queries on how to file them.
Publication: Times Of India Delhi; Date:2008 Jul 29; Section:Times Nation; Page Number 15 Himanshi Dhawan | TNN
Speaking about the online facility, chief information commission Wajahat Habibullah said, “This will hopefully increase the awareness of RTI and its use. It’s mainly designed for appeals and complaints.” There is a catch, however. If the person is filing for information to the CIC, the RTI query will be accepted but must be followed by a postal order of Rs 10.
Online payments are still a long way off. According to the CIC, the government feared that the system was not strong enough to handle credit card payments. “There is fear of Internet fraud when money transactions are conducted on the net,” admitted Habibullah.
As of now, when applicants log on to the CIC website, the online link will provide them with a form to apply online. The form includes ‘mandatory fields’ like name, address, contact details and the ministry, department or public authority that the appeal is against.
Verification code, citizenship status (whether you are an Indian or NRI) will have to be filled. Other details include if the person has applied to the public information officer (the first official authorised to address the appeal) and whether the issue at hand is a matter of life or liberty.
Applicants can also upload documents relevant to their argument. For the Internet savvy, this is likely to save time and resources. But the most to benefit from this are people living outside Delhi and Indians abroad who do not have to depend on the postal department to file their complaints. Habibullah said he had already received complaints online and queries on how to file them.
Publication: Times Of India Delhi; Date:2008 Jul 29; Section:Times Nation; Page Number 15 Himanshi Dhawan | TNN
एएमयू : पीएफ का मनमाना निवेश
अलीगढ़, 23 जून, 2008 www.jagran.com page 16
एएमयू : पीएफ का मनमाना निवेश
संवाददाता, अलीगढ़ : अलीगढ़ मुस्लिम विश्वविद्यालय के कर्मचारियों की भविष्य निधि की एफडी एएमयू कानून को धता बताते हुए फाइनेंस आफिस ने किसी अन्य बैंक में करा दी है, जबकि एक्ट और आर्डिनेंस में साफ निर्देश है कि इसका निवेश भारतीय स्टेट बैंक की एएमयू शाखा में ही किया जाए। इस बात का खुलासा एएमयू दर्शन शास्त्र विभाग में डा. तारिक उल इस्लाम द्वारा सूचना के अधिकार के तहत मांगी गई सूचना में हुआ है। सूचना के अधिकार के तहत डा. तारिक उल इस्लाम ने 10 अप्रैल को एक सूचना मांगी थी। एएमयू के जनसूचना अधिकारी को भेजे पत्र में उन्होंने पूछा था कि एक अप्रैल 2007 से 10 अप्रैल 2008 तक कितनी राशि बैंक में जमा की गई, किस-किस खाते में की गई और राशि जमा की गई वह कहां से आई। इसके अलावा किस बैंक में यह राशि जमा हुई और कितनी ब्याज दर पर हुई। डा. तारिक उल इस्लाम ने प्रत्येक जमा धन और निकासी का पूरा ब्यौरा भी मांगा था। वीसी ने एक्ट 19 (3) (विशेषाधिकार) का प्रयोग करके श्रेयस ग्रामीण बैंक जमालपुर में कुछ धन जमा करने का निर्णय लिया था। सूचना अधिकार के तहत डा. तारिक उल इस्लाम ने उस निर्णय की कापी और ईसी द्वारा पास किए गए प्रस्ताव की कापी भी मांगी थी। मांगी गई जानकारी का जवाब सहायक फाइनेंस अफसर ने दिया है, जिसमें उन्होंने बताया है कि आठ करोड़ रुपये की एफडी 36 महीने के लिए जमालपुर स्थित श्रेयस ग्रामीण बैंक में कराई गई है। इसमें वीसी ने अपने विशेषाधिकार का प्रयोग किया है। प्रयोग के पीछे यह तर्क दिया गया है कि वे राशि पर मिलने वाले ब्याज का नुकसान नहीं होने देना चाहते थे, इसलिए एक्ट 19 (3) का प्रयोग करके एफडी कराई गई है। कर्मचारियों की भविष्यनिधि (पीएफ) की एफडी कई नियमों को धता बताते हुए किया गया है। एएमयू के स्टेच्यू 61 के अपेंडिक्स (ए) के क्लॉज 13 में भविष्य निधि के बारे में साफ तौर पर निर्देश दिए गए हैं। इसमें कहा गया है कि जीपीएफ का निवेश केवल भारतीय स्टेट बैंक की एएमयू ब्रांच में ही कर सकते हैं। इस क्लाज में आगे बताया गया है कि ईसी के निर्देश पर किसी राष्ट्रीयकृत बैंक अथवा पोस्ट आफिस में निवेश किया जा सकता है। इसके अलावा एएमयू के धन के निवेश को लेकर अन्य जगहों पर निर्देश दिए गए हैं। इसमें एक्जीक्यूटिव आर्डिनेंस के चेप्टर दो के क्लॉज दो में साफ कहा गया है कि यदि तीन हजार रुपये से ज्यादा जमा करने हैं तो ईसी की परमीशन के साथ केवल भारतीय स्टेट बैंक में ही जमा होंगे। उसमें यह भी बताया गया है कि यदि बैंक बदली जाएगी तो उसके लिए बाकायदा एग्जीक्यूटिव काउंसिल निर्देश देगी। ईसी की जानकारी के बिना किसी दूसरे बैंक में एफडी कराने को लेकर कुछ जानकार लोग वित्तीय अनियमितता की आशंका जाहिर कर रहे हैं। जानकारी मांगने वाले डा. तारिक उल इस्लाम वीसी के विशेषाधिकार के प्रयोग पर हैरत जाहिर करते हुए कहते हैं कि एक्ट 19 (2) वीसी को केवल एक्जीक्यूटिव और एकेडमिक अधिकार प्रदान करता है, इसमें वित्तीय मामले नहीं आते। डा. इस्लाम इस मामले में वीसी को नहीं फाइनेंस आफिस को दोषी मानते हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि एफडी की मैच्योरिटी की तारीख नजदीक आ रही है, यह पहले से ही पता होगा। वीसी ने एक साल में कई ईसी की बैठक बुलाई हैं, यदि फाइनेंस आफिस चाहता तो ईसी में यह मामला पास हो सकता था।
Sunday, July 6, 2008
CIC penalizes architecture school official for RTI inaction
Publication: Times Of India Delhi; Date:2008 Jul 02; Section:Times Nation; Page Number 19
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has slapped a penalty of Rs 25,000 on the School of Planning and Architecture’s public information officer for inaction on a Right to Information appeal for over three months.
In his order, information commissioner O P Kejriwal has directed the PIO, D R Bains, to pay Rs 25,000 for causing a delay of ‘‘more than 100 days in providing the required information to the appellant’’. He has ordered the SPA director in charge and appellate authority, K T Ravindran, to ensure compliance in recovery of the penalty by August 10.
The appellant had asked for information relating to the action taken against his daughter who was not permitted to sit for an exam due to shortage of attendance.
In his RTI filed on September 1, 2006, to the human resource development ministry, appellant Ramesh Chandra had sought to know what action was being taken against Prof Mahavir, head of the department of physical planning, and Prof Subir Saha, SPA director-in charge, for their ‘‘misconduct’’ in detaining his daughter and other students from appearing for an exam. Chandra also wanted to know whether his daughter Sudeepti Chandra would be permitted to attend classes of fourth year.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has slapped a penalty of Rs 25,000 on the School of Planning and Architecture’s public information officer for inaction on a Right to Information appeal for over three months.
In his order, information commissioner O P Kejriwal has directed the PIO, D R Bains, to pay Rs 25,000 for causing a delay of ‘‘more than 100 days in providing the required information to the appellant’’. He has ordered the SPA director in charge and appellate authority, K T Ravindran, to ensure compliance in recovery of the penalty by August 10.
The appellant had asked for information relating to the action taken against his daughter who was not permitted to sit for an exam due to shortage of attendance.
In his RTI filed on September 1, 2006, to the human resource development ministry, appellant Ramesh Chandra had sought to know what action was being taken against Prof Mahavir, head of the department of physical planning, and Prof Subir Saha, SPA director-in charge, for their ‘‘misconduct’’ in detaining his daughter and other students from appearing for an exam. Chandra also wanted to know whether his daughter Sudeepti Chandra would be permitted to attend classes of fourth year.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
More Corrupt: India slips in Transparency International rankings
Publication: Times Of India Delhi; Date:2008 Jul 05; Section:Editorial; Page Number 18
Recently a raid on the deputy commissioner of commercial taxes in Bangalore revealed that he is the owner of 102 cars. That appears to confirm the common perception that corruption is an intrinsic part of Indian public life. This is validated by surveys too. Transparency International has placed India two notches lower on this year’s Corruption Perception Index than it had in 2007. The only saving grace is that compared to its neighbours, India seems to have done well. Pakistan, for instance, is at 140th position compared to India’s 74th. Nepal and Sri Lanka are ranked a lowly 135 and 96 respectively. China though is ranked one place above India. Another new study by Transparency International and the Centre for Media Studies found that Indians believed public services to be more corrupt than they actually are.
But can we take heart from that? Not really, as the 102 cars in the possession of Bangalore’s taxman show. India still has miles to go in rooting out corruption in public life. The introduction of Right to Information (RTI) legislation may have had an impact on making government more accountable. An independent media working as a watchdog also helps. But hush money, graft and bribes are rampant in public life. And this is true for all government offices that deal with the public.
What is worrying is that the Transparency International report on India found that about Rs 9,000 crore had been paid as bribes by the poor. Indeed, the poor are disproportionately affected by corruption since they depend more on public services. According to the report, one out of every three people living below the poverty line in India paid bribes to access basic public services such as education, health care and water. Corruption is proving to be the biggest hurdle in the way of poverty alleviation programmes. Leakages in government spending programmes mean that very little is actually reaching the poor.
However, all is not lost. The RTI and the media are contributing to efforts to tackle corruption in government and politics. That is a healthy sign. But much more needs to be done to fight corruption. After all, corruption is a key factor in keeping the benefits of India’s growth from trickling down, leading to inequality and political instability.
Recently a raid on the deputy commissioner of commercial taxes in Bangalore revealed that he is the owner of 102 cars. That appears to confirm the common perception that corruption is an intrinsic part of Indian public life. This is validated by surveys too. Transparency International has placed India two notches lower on this year’s Corruption Perception Index than it had in 2007. The only saving grace is that compared to its neighbours, India seems to have done well. Pakistan, for instance, is at 140th position compared to India’s 74th. Nepal and Sri Lanka are ranked a lowly 135 and 96 respectively. China though is ranked one place above India. Another new study by Transparency International and the Centre for Media Studies found that Indians believed public services to be more corrupt than they actually are.
But can we take heart from that? Not really, as the 102 cars in the possession of Bangalore’s taxman show. India still has miles to go in rooting out corruption in public life. The introduction of Right to Information (RTI) legislation may have had an impact on making government more accountable. An independent media working as a watchdog also helps. But hush money, graft and bribes are rampant in public life. And this is true for all government offices that deal with the public.
What is worrying is that the Transparency International report on India found that about Rs 9,000 crore had been paid as bribes by the poor. Indeed, the poor are disproportionately affected by corruption since they depend more on public services. According to the report, one out of every three people living below the poverty line in India paid bribes to access basic public services such as education, health care and water. Corruption is proving to be the biggest hurdle in the way of poverty alleviation programmes. Leakages in government spending programmes mean that very little is actually reaching the poor.
However, all is not lost. The RTI and the media are contributing to efforts to tackle corruption in government and politics. That is a healthy sign. But much more needs to be done to fight corruption. After all, corruption is a key factor in keeping the benefits of India’s growth from trickling down, leading to inequality and political instability.
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