22 November 2009,
NEW DELHI: The CBI, which has decided to
close the case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi,
has refused to reveal information about
him relating to Bofors payoff case under the RTI Act
on the ground that it will "impede" the prosecution of the accused.
The disclosure "would impede the process of apprehension
and prosecution of accused," the investigating agency said
in reply to a plea under the Right to Information Act.
CBI said as the criminal case against Quattrocchi was
still pending in the trial court and that various other
petitions relating to the case were yet to be disposed
of in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court,
the documents and the information can neither be
provided nor allowed to be inspected.
The CBI's reply came on the RTI application filed by
advocate Ajay Agrawal seeking all documents, notings
and files pertaining to defreezing of Quattrocchi and
his wife's accounts at London.
The lawyer, who has opposed closure of case against
Quattrocchi in the apex court and trial court, had
also sought all information including advices, opinions
and notings of law officers as well as CBI's officers who
allegedly favoured him, leading to withdrawal of the
Red Corner Notice against him in November 2008.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
R R Patil orders probe into Karkare's 'missing' jacket
28 November 2009,
MUMBAI: Maharashtra home minister R R Patil
has directed the police to probe the case of
the "missing" bulletproof vest of Anti-Terror Squad
chief Hemant Karkare, who died fighting terrorists
during the 26/11 attacks.
"Patil has taken a serious view of the issue
(of missing jacket) and asked crime branch to
look into it," an aide of Patil said.
Union Home minister P Chidambaram has said it was
"shoddy" of the Mumbai Police to have not been able
to locate the bulletproof vest worn by Karkare when
he was fatally shot and added that he was sorry for the lapse.
Karkare was killed on the night of 26/11 near
Cama Hospital along with Additional Police Commissioner
Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.
Karkare's widow Kavita had said she filed an application
under the Right to Information Act to locate the jacket
but was told it was not traceable.
There have been allegations that the bulletproof vest
worn by Karkare at the time of his death was defective.
MUMBAI: Maharashtra home minister R R Patil
has directed the police to probe the case of
the "missing" bulletproof vest of Anti-Terror Squad
chief Hemant Karkare, who died fighting terrorists
during the 26/11 attacks.
"Patil has taken a serious view of the issue
(of missing jacket) and asked crime branch to
look into it," an aide of Patil said.
Union Home minister P Chidambaram has said it was
"shoddy" of the Mumbai Police to have not been able
to locate the bulletproof vest worn by Karkare when
he was fatally shot and added that he was sorry for the lapse.
Karkare was killed on the night of 26/11 near
Cama Hospital along with Additional Police Commissioner
Ashok Kamte and encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar.
Karkare's widow Kavita had said she filed an application
under the Right to Information Act to locate the jacket
but was told it was not traceable.
There have been allegations that the bulletproof vest
worn by Karkare at the time of his death was defective.
More awareness needed for RTI
AHMEDABAD: The awareness level among common people about the
Right to Information Act is not satisfactory.
This was stated by chief information
commissioner RN Das at a seminar on Your Rights under
Right to Information Act' at the Gujarat Chamber of
Commerce and Industry on Friday.
Das said several studies have revealed that the RTI
awareness level in the entire state is not satisfactory,
with a huge contrast seen in rural areas where some parts
were actively using it and some were completely ignorant.
According to Das, many people still do not know how to file
an application for seeking information.
Das further said that the provision of pro-active disclosure
should vary from area to area. Citing example of Panchmahal,
he said that the authorities have gone in for pro-active
disclosure but the information sought by the applicants
was slightly different.
Hence a study at the grass root
level needs to be carried out and authorities should disclose
information looking at the need of that area, he said.
Das further added that one has to ensure that the justice was
done to the poor and downtrodden, who are living within limitation
of the law.
level needs to be carried out and authorities should disclose
information looking at the need of that area, he said.
Das further added that one has to ensure that the justice was
done to the poor and downtrodden, who are living within limitation
of the law.
He cited two examples in which how he ensured justice
to the victims living within the parameters of the law. He said a
widow had sought information about the labour insurance after her
husband death.
to the victims living within the parameters of the law. He said a
widow had sought information about the labour insurance after her
husband death.
The labour department informed that the application
was sent to Oriental Insurance. Though the insurance company
was not in the purview of the state, he wrote to the
insurance company and during the hearing the widow got the cheque.
Speaking at the event, former city civil and session
judge BN Jani said that one cannot civilise the society
with bunch of laws. He also objected to the use of
the word request in the RTI.
was sent to Oriental Insurance. Though the insurance company
was not in the purview of the state, he wrote to the
insurance company and during the hearing the widow got the cheque.
Speaking at the event, former city civil and session
judge BN Jani said that one cannot civilise the society
with bunch of laws. He also objected to the use of
the word request in the RTI.
DVAC comes under RTI Act:: info panel
CHENNAI: In a landmark ruling, the Tamil Nadu State
Information Commission has held that the
Right To Information (RTI) Act would apply to the
Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC),
nullifying the effect of a State government order of
August 26 last year exempting the DVAC and the State
Vigilance Commission from the purview of the Act.
The decision of the Commission has come as a shot
in the arm for RTI activists, who have been campaigning
for greater transparency among several government
departments in furnishing information.
The State Information Commission directed DVAC to
furnish within two weeks the number of investigations
completed, the number of those convicted
from 2003-04 to 2007-08, and their names and
designations to RTI applicant V Madhav, a resident of Porur.
Personal info can be sought under RTI, saysCHENNAI HC
21 November 2009,
CHENNAI: Can personal information such
as an address of an employee or
a pensioner be demanded under the
provisions of the Right To Information
(RTI) Act?
Yes, says the Madras high court.
Justice K Chandru, pointing out that the writ petitioner
M Kaliaperumal of Chennai wanted the personal details only
to execute a court decree, said:
"A pensioner does not cease
to become totally out of control from the government. On the
contrary, his conduct and character are continuously monitored
by the central government. In that context, the whereabouts of
such pensioner is also very much relevant and it cannot be a private
information. The authorities are bound to help
in the execution of court orders."
Kaliaperumal approached the postal department authorities at Gudur
in Andhra Pradesh, seeking information about a man named
K Ramachandra Rao, against whom a court order had been passed
in a forgery case.
Unable to find him at his residence, Kaliaperumal
filed an RTI application demanding to know the postal address of Rao
as the latter had been receiving his pension from the Gudur post office.
However, the RTI plea was rejected on the
ground that this was a personal
information and had no public interest. His appeal
too met with the similar fate.
Pointing out that the address was sought only to execute a court order,
Justice Chandru said Kaliaperumal was not able to take further civil
and criminal action against Rao as the latter's address was not known.
Directing the authorities to furnish the correct address of
Rao within 30 days, the judge said the plea did have a public
interest as the pensioner's exact whereabouts would clear doubts
as to whether such a pensioner really existed on the date of receipt
of his pension or whether a fraudulent claim had been made on his behalf.
"Such information cannot be denied," he said.
CHENNAI: Can personal information such
as an address of an employee or
a pensioner be demanded under the
provisions of the Right To Information
(RTI) Act?
Yes, says the Madras high court.
Justice K Chandru, pointing out that the writ petitioner
M Kaliaperumal of Chennai wanted the personal details only
to execute a court decree, said:
"A pensioner does not cease
to become totally out of control from the government. On the
contrary, his conduct and character are continuously monitored
by the central government. In that context, the whereabouts of
such pensioner is also very much relevant and it cannot be a private
information. The authorities are bound to help
in the execution of court orders."
Kaliaperumal approached the postal department authorities at Gudur
in Andhra Pradesh, seeking information about a man named
K Ramachandra Rao, against whom a court order had been passed
in a forgery case.
Unable to find him at his residence, Kaliaperumal
filed an RTI application demanding to know the postal address of Rao
as the latter had been receiving his pension from the Gudur post office.
However, the RTI plea was rejected on the
ground that this was a personal
information and had no public interest. His appeal
too met with the similar fate.
Pointing out that the address was sought only to execute a court order,
Justice Chandru said Kaliaperumal was not able to take further civil
and criminal action against Rao as the latter's address was not known.
Directing the authorities to furnish the correct address of
Rao within 30 days, the judge said the plea did have a public
interest as the pensioner's exact whereabouts would clear doubts
as to whether such a pensioner really existed on the date of receipt
of his pension or whether a fraudulent claim had been made on his behalf.
"Such information cannot be denied," he said.
Vijay Naik used the RTI to know why in 2000 his bank cut off his capital limit for no reason
November 11, 2009 Pune
 |
 All nationalised banks also fall under the purview of the RTI Act and non-compliance should be dealt with by the CIC.—Vijay Kumbhar |
“In January 2000, a branch manager and four officers of the Central Bank of India regional office suspiciously and suddenly cancelled our entire working capital limit.
It was a shock to me. I was working with the same bank before and knew all the rules and practices at the bank,” says Naik.
Naik pursued the matter for five years by submitting three complaints to the bank’s various offices upto the head office. “I approached the complaints redressing authorities (CRA) right upto the Reserve Bank of India.
I tried to find out the actual cause of the act and its documentation, but bank officers and executives at the Central Bank of India, including the public information officer (PIO) and appellate authority, suppressed the case and locked the files for 5 years,” says Naik.
In year 2005, the RTI Act came into realisation. “The PIO at Central Bank refused my RTI application in writing and so I approached the Appellate Authority.
Finally, I approached the CIC in Delhi. However, the CIC to dragged its feet and inspite of submitting proof against the bank, they took no action.
Just for the simple and legitimate task of allowing me to inspect the files, CIC New Delhi, conducted two unwarranted personal hearings (PH) at Delhi,” said Naik.
“On November 26, 2005, I started correspondence on the basis of RTI Act and fought till April 12, 2007 for about 16 months as opposed to the 30-day deadline,” added Naik. Also, the whole process cost him over Rs 20,000 as opposed to the Rs 10 official fee.
Naik, at last, tasted success. “The CIC released an order stating no officer/ staff can prepare internal notings, P&C documents on fake and fabricated information or documents.
Also, no executive can intentionally or unintentionally or by oversight approve or sign on such internal non-public notes, unless they are absolutely true,” Naik informed.
“Complaints with proofs obtained through RTI process were submitted to the Chairman and Managing Director of the Central Bank of India. They are still pending with him,” said Naik.
Vijay Kumbhar, RTI activist said, “I have studied the Vijay Naik’s RTI case and it has been proved that the Central Bank is dening to release papers under the RTI Act.
All nationalised banks also fall under the purview of the RTI Act and non-compliance should be dealt with by the CIC.
inputs by Vidya Ranade
Panjab University fails to give info under RTI
TNN 29 November 2009,
CHANDIGARH: Panjab University (PU) scrapped the list of 48 items,
which had been exempted from the purview of Right To Information (RTI) Act,
from its handbook on the direction of chief information commission (CIC).
However, it failed to provide complete information sought by an applicant
under RTI, following which, the complainant again approached the CIC
on Thursday. A few months ago, complainant Nitin Goyal had filed an
RTI seeking some details, which were, however, not acceded to by the
university. It claimed that the information sought was among the list
of 48 items included in the university hand book that was not included
under RTI.
The complainant had then approached the CIC demanding relief.
The CIC on November 6 directed the university to withdraw the list of
48 exempted items, titled list of items of information that cannot be
disclosed under the RTI Act, from the handbook. It further directed the
PIO to give complete information sought by the complainant before
November 26.
However, the complainant claimed that the information
provided by the PIO was insufficient. According to the complaint,
the PIO was directed to give the complainant copy of complaints and
actions taken by the disciplinary committee on these. If no action was
taken, it should also be stated. But the PIO provided him with incomplete
information on November 25.
Copies of complaints against Sukhmani Bal Riar, Rohit Sharma,
Semha Rai and Jaspreet Kaur were denied on the pretext that
these cases were pending, claimed Goyal.
Moreover, in October,
PU employee Gurcharan Singh Malhi was allegedly caught tampering
with re-evaluation results of two students. Finance development
officer Vikram Nayyar said “If the complainant was dissatisfied,
he was free to check the documents with PU.”
CHANDIGARH: Panjab University (PU) scrapped the list of 48 items,
which had been exempted from the purview of Right To Information (RTI) Act,
from its handbook on the direction of chief information commission (CIC).
However, it failed to provide complete information sought by an applicant
under RTI, following which, the complainant again approached the CIC
on Thursday. A few months ago, complainant Nitin Goyal had filed an
RTI seeking some details, which were, however, not acceded to by the
university. It claimed that the information sought was among the list
of 48 items included in the university hand book that was not included
under RTI.
The complainant had then approached the CIC demanding relief.
The CIC on November 6 directed the university to withdraw the list of
48 exempted items, titled list of items of information that cannot be
disclosed under the RTI Act, from the handbook. It further directed the
PIO to give complete information sought by the complainant before
November 26.
However, the complainant claimed that the information
provided by the PIO was insufficient. According to the complaint,
the PIO was directed to give the complainant copy of complaints and
actions taken by the disciplinary committee on these. If no action was
taken, it should also be stated. But the PIO provided him with incomplete
information on November 25.
Copies of complaints against Sukhmani Bal Riar, Rohit Sharma,
Semha Rai and Jaspreet Kaur were denied on the pretext that
these cases were pending, claimed Goyal.
Moreover, in October,
PU employee Gurcharan Singh Malhi was allegedly caught tampering
with re-evaluation results of two students. Finance development
officer Vikram Nayyar said “If the complainant was dissatisfied,
he was free to check the documents with PU.”
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