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RTI query catches babus on wrong foot
In what could be described as blatant lie, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Civil Supplies replied to an RTI query that all the GOs were uploaded. It may be recalled that The Hans India published on October 23, 2016, bringing to light that the Finance department did not upload the 984 GOs out of 2,371 GOs issued between January 1, 2016 and Septe
Hyderabad: In what could be described as blatant lie, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Civil Supplies replied to an RTI query that all the GOs were uploaded. It may be recalled that The Hans India published on October 23, 2016, bringing to light that the Finance department did not upload the 984 GOs out of 2,371 GOs issued between January 1, 2016 and September 30, 2016.
Pursuant to the publication of the GO issue, this RTI correspondent of The Hans India, in an application to the CA, F and CS department wanted the details of GOs which were not uploaded to be sent to his email ID. He also wanted copies of the circulars, circular UO Notes also known as Unofficial Notes, UO notes, Memos issued by the department between June 2, 2014 and September 30, 2016.
He wanted the information regarding reasons why certain GOs were not uploaded in the website. The activist also wanted information about the PIO, his status, his educational qualifications, mobile number, email ID, whether he is regular, contract or outsourced employee and the details of the first appellate officer, his status, his educational qualifications, mobile number, email ID, whether he is a regular employee or on contract/outsourced employee.
He also wanted the information about the officer who would take action against the PIO in case he provides wrong and misleading information as per the State Civil Services (conduct) rules. In his reply to the RTI query, the PIO, R Suryakumar blatantly lied stating, “It is informed that all GOs have been uploaded in the government website www.goir. telangana.gov.in.
For the second query regarding circulars and UO Notes, he stated that the applicant is informed to approach the government on specific circulars/UO Notes. For the third query about the reasons for non-uploading of GOs, he stated, “It is informed that in respect of CAF&CS department, all GOs have been uploaded.” However, the PIO has provided all the details regarding the fourth and fifth queries.
The reply to the RTI application has betrayed the true colours of the government officer as to how he could lie without blinking an eyelid. In a letter the activist shot off to the principal secretary, CAF & CS Department, he demanded departmental action against PIO Surya Kumar for issuing wrong and misleading information.
This correspondent sent the same application to the Finance department seeking the same details. However, much to his consternation, he received one line reply stating, “It is submitted that according to Information Act, material in any form can be sought but not the information without mentioning the GO No/Order No and enlighten/explain the issue. Hence the issue sought by the applicant may not come under the purview of the Right to Information Act.
By suppressing the information by not uploading the GOs issued by a crucial department like Finance, what message is the government sending to the people. It is amply clear that the Finance Department is holding back the truth from public by not uploading the GOs then and by not replying to the information seeker now.
In another instance, the department of school education denied information. The news story published in The Hans India on 23 October reported that the Department of School Education did not upload a total of 17 GOs for the period of nine months i.e. from January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016. This RTI activist applied for the information about the GOs that were not uploaded. But, surprisingly, the Department of School Education rejected the application by stating that the activist did not ask for the specific information.
The reply says “I am to inform that you have not sought specific information from the government under section 6(1) of RTI Act, 2005. Hence your application in original received in the reference cited is herewith returned, and informed that sought the specific information not hypothetical questions.
The Section 7 (1) RTI ACT, 2005 says that “on receipt of a request under section 6 shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8 and 9.” But the government department bluntly rejected the application without mentioning the prescribed reasons.
By Ganji Srinivasa Rao
