Pending RTI Appeals & Complaints at Information Commission:
It is reported by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) that huge pendency continues in various Commissions. The top two being:
Maharashtra – 34,158 as on 30-05-2014
Central – 21,946 as on 30-05-2014
Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit:
CM once had said: “If you cannot afford the electricity bill, then cut down your consumption.” Yet when it came to her electricity consumption, it was beyond imagination: She was using:
31 Air Conditioners
15 Desert Coolers
16 Air Purifiers
25 Heaters
12 Geysers
The above information was obtained by RTI query filed by RTI activist Mr. S.C. Agrawal. In reply the Central Public Works Department said that an expense of Rs. 16.81 lakh was incurred on the electrical renovation of the bungalow to customise it according to the needs of the then chief minister.
Sophisticated and Normal Weapons For Mumbai Police:
RTI activist, Chetan Kothari, procured following details in response to RTI query.
Sophisticated weapons acquired by state government for city cops, post 26/11:
40mm under barrel grenade launcher 391
Corner shot weapon system 15
Projector grenade 73
Rocket launcher 14
Automatic grenade launcher 50
Sniper rifle 8
51mm mortar 44
Cord detonating explosives (Meters) 475
Normal Arms and Ammunition procured after 26/11:
7.62 SLR Rifle 29,373
Glock pistols 1,277
AK-47 Rifle 3,975
9mm pistols 1,000
Stun Gun (N / E) 2,000
Tear Gas Gun 94
5.56 Insas Rifle 3,916
Machine gun (MP5, A3/%, SD6, KN) 2,061
9mm automatic pistols 1,029
Bullet Proof Jackets 4,500
5.56 Insas LMG 532
Reply also stated: These sophisticated weapons have been mainly procured from the US and Germany.
Mumbai police spokesperson DCP Mahesh Patil said the department has been using sophisticated weapons post 26/11. “These weapons provide the force with an added edge to combat any terror like situation. Experts from companies that deliver these weapons train the force in using them.
Deaths In 3 Civic Hospitals:
Right to Information query into the deaths in Mumbai’s civic – run hospitals threw up disturbing statistics – over the past 13 years one lakh patients died in Sion hospital, Ghatkopar’s Rajawadi Hospital and Mumbai Central’s BYL Nair Hospital.
RTI activists Anand Pargaonkar’s query was directed to all public hospitals in the city, but authorities of only three hospitals provided him with statistics of their mortality rate. Between 2001 to 2013, at Rajawadi hospital, 16,014 out of the 55 lakh patients (including out patients) died. At Nair hospital 29,650 out of 33 lakh admitted patients passed away. Most shockingly, 63,313 out of 1.94 crore patients admitted at Sion hospital died in this period. On an average, eight patients died in these hospitals every day.
Unit Trust of India:
In response to my RTI application, UTI provided me the information sought but also wrote:
In this connection, we wish to inform you that Hon’ble Bombay High Court has granted stay on the order dated 6th August 2008 passed by the Central Information Commission on applicability of the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act, 2005), on UTI Mutual Fund, UTI Asset Management Company Ltd and UTI Trustee Company Ltd. pursuant to a Writ Petition filed by these entities. As such the matter is sub-judice and the RTI Act, 2005 is not applicable on all the above entities.
