Is RTI Act-2005 dying its own death? The Act was passed with much fan fare, However, barring a few like Kejriwal or perhaps Mr Kuldip Nayar and Mrs Kiran Bedi, the number of fortunates who could extract the sought information is extremely low. It is rarely that some official is fined for not providing the information at all, what to say of within the mandated period.
It is perturbing that the Hon'ble Commission tows the line of bureaucracy and appears to be acting as an advocate of the Govt.
In a case of 1989-90, which remained subjudice up to 2005, and was vigorously contested by the Indian Railway, the records were requested to be examined in 2007, when the CPIO told that the records were not availabe. The request was repeated after sometime, presuming that the records might have been available by then, when the reply came that the records were not traceable. Request was again repeated, when the reply came that the records had been destroyed as preservation period was over. The Hon'ble Commission was dumb founded, toeing the official line and the applicant had no way out.
In yet another case the applicant submitted representations against injustice meted out to him. Finding no response, filed an application under RTI Act, requesting to provide him the decision taken on the representations. No information was provided. Appeal was prefered b4 the commission, where the CPIO argued that the RTI Act was not for redressing grievances and the Honble Commission tried to toe the same line, while the applicant could hardly convince the Commission that he had not come to Commission for redressing the grievance but for getting the SOUGHT INFORMATION.
Such attitudes shall give rise to frustration amongst the citizens, who may take law in their own hands and force to inept and corrupt persons to mend themselves or face the ..............
