New Delhi: This is staggering. A whopping Rs 300 crore has
been spent between 2006 and 2009 as travelling expenses
of the cabinet ministers in the previous UPA government.
In a reply to an RTI query by activist Subhash Chandra
Agarwal, the statistics reveal such mammoth figures even
at a time when the country was going through economic
slowdown.
The reports from the cabinet secretariat clearly reveal the
fact that 30 cabinet ministers in the UPA's first term have
spent Rs 137 crore on travelling to foreign destinations
between fiscal 2006-07 and 2008-09.
Even the domestic travel expenses amounted to Rs 163 crore.
The statistics further reveal that expenditure incurred by the
Cabinet ministers during 2008-09 was around Rs 95 crore.
According to J L Khurana, senior accounts officer at the
ministry of personnel, public grievances and pension,
UPA ministers the office does not have any record of how
much an individual minister has spent since all the expenditure
is recorded under one respective account of all the ministers.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Right to Information Act-2005,The Common Man's BRAHMASTRA
JATINDER JAIN
Monday, 09 November 2009
India got Independence in 1947 and proclaimed itself
a Republic in 1950, with a great Constitution.
However, in practice, a brown elite replaced the
white masters and Swaraj did not come.
Mahatma Gandhi had said, “Real Swaraj will
come not by the acquisition of authority by
a few but by the acquisition of capacity
to resist authority when abused.”
A few did acquire the authority and retained it
The Right to Information is derived from
our fundamental right of expression
under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
If we do not have information on how our
Government and Public Institutions function,
we cannot express any informed opinion on it.
This has been clearly stated by various
Supreme Court judgments, since 1977.
Citizens Right to Know is paramount.
Since the Government is run on behalf of the
people, they are the rightful owners who have
a right to be informed directly. Nine States
had enacted the Right To Information Acts
across India. On 11 and 12 May, 2005, the
two houses of Parliament passed the Right
To Information Act as Act 22 of 2005.
This become operational from 12 October, 2005 –
significantly Vijayadashmi.
The Importance of RTI
1. At the price of Rs.10, it provides the facility
for Citizens to get information on the Government's
actions and decisions. If you send your application
by registered post or courier, the extra cost will be
about 10 to 25 Rupees. The cost of getting the
information of about five pages would be Rs. 10/.
Even if you add the postage cost of getting the
information the total will be about 70 rupees.
The law mandates that the information has to be
given within 30 days.
2. If a few thousand Citizens spend about
Rs. 70 per month and about an hour in their
own house they can file a new RTI application
and get information about matters, which concern them.
The power of getting accountability,
reducing corruption, impacting policy
decisions and ensuring better governance
is now with us. We missed our opportunity in 1950,
but have another chance now.
YOU individually can make a big contribution
to getting the Nation we want.
A small effort from our own house,
can bring Swaraj.
What can the Right To Information Act do?
1. It restores to Citizens the right to get
information on rules, expenditure, reasons
for taking decisions, copies of Government
orders, agreements, Audit reports and so on.
Virtually most activities of the Government
can be monitored by the people.
2. Any Citizen can use RTI, without going
to any Government office, and with a very low cost.
With a ten rupee fee and a proper format,
a Citizen initiates a very powerful legal
course, which entitles him to information,
which can be demanded by MLAs and MPS on the
floor of the house! You do not have to get
forms from anywhere. Just use the format,
specified in some States.
3. Citizens have felt helpless as individuals
to question or correct wrongs as individuals.
This Act restores the majesty of the Citizen
and empowers him to use the Power of ONE.
4.It can convert our purely electoral democracy
into a true participatory democracy, by which we
can get and monitor better governance, and
also be early participants in framing policy.
Right to information is defined under Section 2(j) as:
"right to information" means the right to information
accessible under this Act which is held by or under
the control of any public authority and includes the
right to -
inspection of work, documents, records;
1.taking notes, extracts, or certified copies of documents or records.
2.taking certified samples of material;
obtaining information in the form of diskettes,
floppies. tapes, video cassettes or in any other
electronic mode or through printouts where such
information is stored in a computer or in any
other device; ‘
3. Information can be demanded from all Public
authorities, ie. all Govt. bodies and organizations
substantially financed by Government including NGOs
and aided schools and Colleges.
4. A time period within which information must
be provided, namely 30 days.
Method of giving the information.
1. Ten exemptions of information- Section 8 (1),- which
will not be given. However Section 8(2) specifies that
if there is great Public interest in disclosure, all
information must be given, even if it is exempt.
2. Citizens can ask for information by getting Xerox
copies of documents, permissions, policies and decisions.
3. Inspection of files can also be done and samples can be asked for.
4. All administrative offices of public authorities
have to appoint ‘Public Information Officers (PIO)’
or ‘Assistant Public Information Officer’ (APIO).
5. Citizens apply for information to the Public
Information Officer of the concerned office.
6. If information is not provided or wrongly refused,
the Citizen can go in appeal to an Appellate Authority
who would be an official in the same department, senior
to the PIO. The Appellate authority has to give a
decision in 30 days.
7. If this too does not give a satisfactory result,
one can appeal to the State or Central Information
Commissioner, which is an independent Constitutional
Authority, established under the Act.
The Act provides for a penalty for delay on the PIO
at a rate of Rs. 250 per day of delay, or for malafide
denial of information, or giving false information.
In case of information being delayed, no charges for
information are to be paid.
Thus RTI provides for a time bound and defined process
for Citizens to access information about all actions
taken by Public authorities. The penal provisions on
the PIO are the real teeth of the Act, which ensure
that the PIO cannot treat Citizen’s demands for
information in a cavalier manner
Make the RTI application clearly defining the
information you are seeking in Appendix A, sign it
and take a xerox copy for your record. Send it to
the office from which you are seeking information.
If you or your representative is delivering it personally,
get an acknowledgement on the Xerox copy.
You can also
send it by courier, or registered post, in
which case you should keep the acknowledgement.
Some offices cause problems in accepting hand-delivered
requisitions. In such cases, courier or post is advisable
Jatinder Jain
O/o SANKALP
135, BHATTAN STREET,
SUNAM-148028
DISTT SANGRUR
PUNJAB
PH 09417601110, 01676222299
Monday, 09 November 2009
India got Independence in 1947 and proclaimed itself
a Republic in 1950, with a great Constitution.
However, in practice, a brown elite replaced the
white masters and Swaraj did not come.
Mahatma Gandhi had said, “Real Swaraj will
come not by the acquisition of authority by
a few but by the acquisition of capacity
to resist authority when abused.”
A few did acquire the authority and retained it
The Right to Information is derived from
our fundamental right of expression
under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
If we do not have information on how our
Government and Public Institutions function,
we cannot express any informed opinion on it.
This has been clearly stated by various
Supreme Court judgments, since 1977.
Citizens Right to Know is paramount.
Since the Government is run on behalf of the
people, they are the rightful owners who have
a right to be informed directly. Nine States
had enacted the Right To Information Acts
across India. On 11 and 12 May, 2005, the
two houses of Parliament passed the Right
To Information Act as Act 22 of 2005.
This become operational from 12 October, 2005 –
significantly Vijayadashmi.
The Importance of RTI
1. At the price of Rs.10, it provides the facility
for Citizens to get information on the Government's
actions and decisions. If you send your application
by registered post or courier, the extra cost will be
about 10 to 25 Rupees. The cost of getting the
information of about five pages would be Rs. 10/.
Even if you add the postage cost of getting the
information the total will be about 70 rupees.
The law mandates that the information has to be
given within 30 days.
2. If a few thousand Citizens spend about
Rs. 70 per month and about an hour in their
own house they can file a new RTI application
and get information about matters, which concern them.
The power of getting accountability,
reducing corruption, impacting policy
decisions and ensuring better governance
is now with us. We missed our opportunity in 1950,
but have another chance now.
YOU individually can make a big contribution
to getting the Nation we want.
A small effort from our own house,
can bring Swaraj.
What can the Right To Information Act do?
1. It restores to Citizens the right to get
information on rules, expenditure, reasons
for taking decisions, copies of Government
orders, agreements, Audit reports and so on.
Virtually most activities of the Government
can be monitored by the people.
2. Any Citizen can use RTI, without going
to any Government office, and with a very low cost.
With a ten rupee fee and a proper format,
a Citizen initiates a very powerful legal
course, which entitles him to information,
which can be demanded by MLAs and MPS on the
floor of the house! You do not have to get
forms from anywhere. Just use the format,
specified in some States.
3. Citizens have felt helpless as individuals
to question or correct wrongs as individuals.
This Act restores the majesty of the Citizen
and empowers him to use the Power of ONE.
4.It can convert our purely electoral democracy
into a true participatory democracy, by which we
can get and monitor better governance, and
also be early participants in framing policy.
Right to information is defined under Section 2(j) as:
"right to information" means the right to information
accessible under this Act which is held by or under
the control of any public authority and includes the
right to -
inspection of work, documents, records;
1.taking notes, extracts, or certified copies of documents or records.
2.taking certified samples of material;
obtaining information in the form of diskettes,
floppies. tapes, video cassettes or in any other
electronic mode or through printouts where such
information is stored in a computer or in any
other device; ‘
3. Information can be demanded from all Public
authorities, ie. all Govt. bodies and organizations
substantially financed by Government including NGOs
and aided schools and Colleges.
4. A time period within which information must
be provided, namely 30 days.
Method of giving the information.
1. Ten exemptions of information- Section 8 (1),- which
will not be given. However Section 8(2) specifies that
if there is great Public interest in disclosure, all
information must be given, even if it is exempt.
2. Citizens can ask for information by getting Xerox
copies of documents, permissions, policies and decisions.
3. Inspection of files can also be done and samples can be asked for.
4. All administrative offices of public authorities
have to appoint ‘Public Information Officers (PIO)’
or ‘Assistant Public Information Officer’ (APIO).
5. Citizens apply for information to the Public
Information Officer of the concerned office.
6. If information is not provided or wrongly refused,
the Citizen can go in appeal to an Appellate Authority
who would be an official in the same department, senior
to the PIO. The Appellate authority has to give a
decision in 30 days.
7. If this too does not give a satisfactory result,
one can appeal to the State or Central Information
Commissioner, which is an independent Constitutional
Authority, established under the Act.
The Act provides for a penalty for delay on the PIO
at a rate of Rs. 250 per day of delay, or for malafide
denial of information, or giving false information.
In case of information being delayed, no charges for
information are to be paid.
Thus RTI provides for a time bound and defined process
for Citizens to access information about all actions
taken by Public authorities. The penal provisions on
the PIO are the real teeth of the Act, which ensure
that the PIO cannot treat Citizen’s demands for
information in a cavalier manner
Make the RTI application clearly defining the
information you are seeking in Appendix A, sign it
and take a xerox copy for your record. Send it to
the office from which you are seeking information.
If you or your representative is delivering it personally,
get an acknowledgement on the Xerox copy.
You can also
send it by courier, or registered post, in
which case you should keep the acknowledgement.
Some offices cause problems in accepting hand-delivered
requisitions. In such cases, courier or post is advisable
Jatinder Jain
O/o SANKALP
135, BHATTAN STREET,
SUNAM-148028
DISTT SANGRUR
PUNJAB
PH 09417601110, 01676222299
EVM info can't be revealed under RTI Act
By : Jithendra.H.J on 07 November 2009
The Delhi High Court has held that information stored in
Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) cannot be made public
under the RTI Act. Justice Sanjiv Khanna set aside the
order of the Central Information Commission which had
asked the Election Commission to reveal information in
EVM to an information seeker under the transparency law.
"Right to information is an important right.
At the same time, maintaining secrecy and
confidentiality of the ballot papers is also an
equally valuable right," the court said.
The Court passed the order on a petition
filed by the Election Commission challenging
the CIC's order which had directed it to provide
information pertaining to which were noted down
from electronic voting machines. It had pleaded
that confidentiality of voters have to be protected
at any cost and it would be very easy to find out
voting pattern if such information are revealed.
"We are under law precluded from having access
to the information. We have custody of the machines
but we don't have custody of the information containing
in the machine," the Commission had said while expressing
its inability to disclose such information.
"Once EVMs are sealed, it is no longer open
to the Election Commission to de-seal them and
re-examine the data stored in the control unit except
under pre-conditions," the court said adding it could be
desealed only after an order of a competent court.
The Delhi High Court has held that information stored in
Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) cannot be made public
under the RTI Act. Justice Sanjiv Khanna set aside the
order of the Central Information Commission which had
asked the Election Commission to reveal information in
EVM to an information seeker under the transparency law.
"Right to information is an important right.
At the same time, maintaining secrecy and
confidentiality of the ballot papers is also an
equally valuable right," the court said.
The Court passed the order on a petition
filed by the Election Commission challenging
the CIC's order which had directed it to provide
information pertaining to which were noted down
from electronic voting machines. It had pleaded
that confidentiality of voters have to be protected
at any cost and it would be very easy to find out
voting pattern if such information are revealed.
"We are under law precluded from having access
to the information. We have custody of the machines
but we don't have custody of the information containing
in the machine," the Commission had said while expressing
its inability to disclose such information.
"Once EVMs are sealed, it is no longer open
to the Election Commission to de-seal them and
re-examine the data stored in the control unit except
under pre-conditions," the court said adding it could be
desealed only after an order of a competent court.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Court to hear plea on appointment of information commissioner
New Delhi, Nov 8
The Delhi High Court is likely to hear Monday a plea seeking transparency
in the appointment of a new chief information commissioner of the Central
Information Commission (CIC) and urging that bureaucrats should not be
first choice for the post as "an essential safeguard".
The petition was filed by Krishna Rao and six others demanding that
the government advertise the post of CIC chief widely and give equal
opportunity for submitting candidatures to those who are eligible.
The petition filed last week through advocate A. Rasheed Quereshi
submitted that “the function of Information Commissioner is to act as
transparency of public administration, so appointment of those who
have held key positions and high offices in the public administration
violates the principles of natural justice and creates a constant
threat of conflict of interest.”
“It is undesirable that bureaucrats are first choice for appointment
to the CIC, in fact non-bureaucrats should be the first choice for CIC
commissioner. This is necessary for providing an essential safeguard,”
the petition states.
Stressing that advertising for the CIC commissioner's post is necessary,
the petition says: “The process of issuing advertisements are part
of international best practices. Since CIC's position is quasi judicial
in nature, so it cannot be filled up through the closed process of
in-house selection from within the public authorities over which
it is expected to exercise jurisdiction.”
The present selection process is done by a committee comprising
the prime minister, Leader of Opposition and a union minister
nominated by the prime minister.
The activists have pleaded before the court that the government
select such candidates for quasi-judicial posts whose occupational
backgrounds make them "predisposed to conflicts of interest".
The petition also states that since the government does not advertise
or make efforts to get independent, talented and qualified persons
from other walks of life, they deprive the citizen the right to be
served by well-qualified second appellate authorities in matters
of Right to Information (RTI).
The CIC chief commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has resigned to
take up his new appointment as Jammu and Kashmir Information
Commissioner. His resignation is yet to be accepted.
The Delhi High Court is likely to hear Monday a plea seeking transparency
in the appointment of a new chief information commissioner of the Central
Information Commission (CIC) and urging that bureaucrats should not be
first choice for the post as "an essential safeguard".
The petition was filed by Krishna Rao and six others demanding that
the government advertise the post of CIC chief widely and give equal
opportunity for submitting candidatures to those who are eligible.
The petition filed last week through advocate A. Rasheed Quereshi
submitted that “the function of Information Commissioner is to act as
transparency of public administration, so appointment of those who
have held key positions and high offices in the public administration
violates the principles of natural justice and creates a constant
threat of conflict of interest.”
“It is undesirable that bureaucrats are first choice for appointment
to the CIC, in fact non-bureaucrats should be the first choice for CIC
commissioner. This is necessary for providing an essential safeguard,”
the petition states.
Stressing that advertising for the CIC commissioner's post is necessary,
the petition says: “The process of issuing advertisements are part
of international best practices. Since CIC's position is quasi judicial
in nature, so it cannot be filled up through the closed process of
in-house selection from within the public authorities over which
it is expected to exercise jurisdiction.”
The present selection process is done by a committee comprising
the prime minister, Leader of Opposition and a union minister
nominated by the prime minister.
The activists have pleaded before the court that the government
select such candidates for quasi-judicial posts whose occupational
backgrounds make them "predisposed to conflicts of interest".
The petition also states that since the government does not advertise
or make efforts to get independent, talented and qualified persons
from other walks of life, they deprive the citizen the right to be
served by well-qualified second appellate authorities in matters
of Right to Information (RTI).
The CIC chief commissioner Wajahat Habibullah has resigned to
take up his new appointment as Jammu and Kashmir Information
Commissioner. His resignation is yet to be accepted.
'Fearless' journalist Prabhash Joshi dies at 72
2009-11-06 18:20:00
Well-known Indian journalist Prabhash Joshi, 72, died following a heart attack here late Thursday. His demise was widely mourned as the passing away of a 'fearless editor' who was dedicated to 'ethics and transparency'.
Joshi was taken to a private hospital after he complained of chest pain at 11.30 p.m. where doctors declared him dead, hospital officials said. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Joshi began his career with 'Nai Duniya' and became the founder-editor of the leading Hindi daily 'Jansatta' in 1983.
'His family has taken the body by a chartered plane to Indore, Madhya Pradesh. They will travel to his native place Badwaha, 100 km away from Indore, where the cremation will take place Saturday afternoon,' a family friend said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni expressed grief and recalled his immense contribution to the world of Hindi journalism.
'The journalistic fraternity has lost a multi-faceted personality with the demise of Joshi,' said Soni while recounting his career as a noted columnist, political analyst and a popular television commentator in his later years.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in a statement: 'He was representative of that generation of journalism which, despite everything, stayed rooted to issues of the common man, villagers and the grassroots.'
'His writing reflected Indianness. Journalism was not only his profession but also his social responsibility. He played an important part in Gandhian movement, Bhoodan movement, in the surrender of bandits and in the struggle against emergency,' Vajpayee said.
'I am saddened with the death of a determined, people's journalist who was a great friend,' he added.
Pankaj Pachauri of NDTV news channel said: 'Prabhashji was someone who never came under any pressure, either political or market pressure. He was one of his kind. He singlehandedly ran a campaign against communal forces at the time of the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.
'His understanding of Hinduism was very clear and that's why he could talk about it while keeping politics away from it. His book on Hindutva is the best in the country for anyone who wants to understand Hinduism. It is a must read for everyone,' Pachauri said.
'Secondly, he used to love cricket and Sachin Tendulkar was his favourite. He used to watch cricket matches live to understand the game more,' he added.
Writer and magazine editor Pankaj Bisht said: 'Joshi was one of the important Hindi editors. His contribution to maintaining the seriousness of Hindi newspapers and keeping the position of editors intact at a time when papers were getting commercialised is commendable. He was a fearless editor.'
The National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) also expressed condolence on Joshi's death.
'We, in the NCPRI, deeply grieve the demise of Prabhash Joshiji, a great advocate of the right to information, creator of the campaign and supporter of ethics,' an official statement by NCPRI said.
'He was a journalist of great repute. Apart from his immense contribution to journalism, his commitment and dedication towards ethics, transparency and his belief in securing social justice for all has inspired and encouraged many of us in the RTI campaign,' the statement added.
'Prabhashji was not only a prolific writer, he was a brilliant orator who spoke with frankness, and a ready sense of humour. His persistent support for transparency and ethics as the backbone of democracy. He also played a very important role in drafting the RTI legislation,' it added.
Well-known Indian journalist Prabhash Joshi, 72, died following a heart attack here late Thursday. His demise was widely mourned as the passing away of a 'fearless editor' who was dedicated to 'ethics and transparency'.
Joshi was taken to a private hospital after he complained of chest pain at 11.30 p.m. where doctors declared him dead, hospital officials said. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.
Joshi began his career with 'Nai Duniya' and became the founder-editor of the leading Hindi daily 'Jansatta' in 1983.
'His family has taken the body by a chartered plane to Indore, Madhya Pradesh. They will travel to his native place Badwaha, 100 km away from Indore, where the cremation will take place Saturday afternoon,' a family friend said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni expressed grief and recalled his immense contribution to the world of Hindi journalism.
'The journalistic fraternity has lost a multi-faceted personality with the demise of Joshi,' said Soni while recounting his career as a noted columnist, political analyst and a popular television commentator in his later years.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in a statement: 'He was representative of that generation of journalism which, despite everything, stayed rooted to issues of the common man, villagers and the grassroots.'
'His writing reflected Indianness. Journalism was not only his profession but also his social responsibility. He played an important part in Gandhian movement, Bhoodan movement, in the surrender of bandits and in the struggle against emergency,' Vajpayee said.
'I am saddened with the death of a determined, people's journalist who was a great friend,' he added.
Pankaj Pachauri of NDTV news channel said: 'Prabhashji was someone who never came under any pressure, either political or market pressure. He was one of his kind. He singlehandedly ran a campaign against communal forces at the time of the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.
'His understanding of Hinduism was very clear and that's why he could talk about it while keeping politics away from it. His book on Hindutva is the best in the country for anyone who wants to understand Hinduism. It is a must read for everyone,' Pachauri said.
'Secondly, he used to love cricket and Sachin Tendulkar was his favourite. He used to watch cricket matches live to understand the game more,' he added.
Writer and magazine editor Pankaj Bisht said: 'Joshi was one of the important Hindi editors. His contribution to maintaining the seriousness of Hindi newspapers and keeping the position of editors intact at a time when papers were getting commercialised is commendable. He was a fearless editor.'
The National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) also expressed condolence on Joshi's death.
'We, in the NCPRI, deeply grieve the demise of Prabhash Joshiji, a great advocate of the right to information, creator of the campaign and supporter of ethics,' an official statement by NCPRI said.
'He was a journalist of great repute. Apart from his immense contribution to journalism, his commitment and dedication towards ethics, transparency and his belief in securing social justice for all has inspired and encouraged many of us in the RTI campaign,' the statement added.
'Prabhashji was not only a prolific writer, he was a brilliant orator who spoke with frankness, and a ready sense of humour. His persistent support for transparency and ethics as the backbone of democracy. He also played a very important role in drafting the RTI legislation,' it added.
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