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.
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