CBI goes to the Delhi High Court:
Vide provisions of section 24, RTI Act does not apply to the intelligence and security organisations specified in the Second Schedule.
The Central Board of Investigation (CBI) has been added in the Second Schedule to the RTI Act w.e.f. 29-6-2011.
The matter was taken to the Madras High Court pleading that the CBI is not the intelligence and security organisation. But, it was lost.
Mr. C.J. Karira made an application to the CBI asking it to furnish information relating to the status of sanction for prosecution against government officials facing allegations of corruption between 2007 to 2011. Same was denied. He filed an appeal to CIC. He pointed out that the information which the CBI declined to reveal on his RTI plea has been disclosed by the ministry of personnel in a number of responses to Parliament members. Hence, it is disclosable under Proviso to s/s. 1 to section 24.
The 1st Proviso to section 24 reads as under: Provided that the information pertaining to the allegations of corruption and human rights violations shall not be excluded under this sub-section.
The Commission in its decision directed the CBI to disclose the status of sanction for prosecution against government officials facing allegations of corruption between 2007 to 2011.
The CBI has now approached the Delhi High Court seeking exemption under the RTI Act from disclosing information held by it on allegations of corruption. The Delhi High Court has stayed the CIC Order and has fixed the matter on 3rd April for further hearing.
Mumbai Police
On an average, 120 Mumbai police personnel have died while on duty every year since 2002, with 98% of them succumbing to various illnesses, including cardiac arrest, according to an RTI reply. Other causes of death included illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and heart-related problems, among others.
“Due to long duty hours, a policemen cannot plan their days. They don’t get time to exercise. Moreover, when policemen are deployed at any place, they have to eat the food available there, which may be unhealthy,” Additional Commissioner of police (Crime) Niket Kaushik said.
Vice–Chancellor of Mumbai University:
A query filed by Mr. Anil Galgali an RTI activist under the RTI Act, revealed that the Mumbai University (MU) hired senior advocates to fight the cases challenging the VC’s job. The university had hired senior advocates, Rafique A. Dada – known for fighting tricky cases – Naushad Engineer and Sagar Talekar.
MU’s finance and accounts PIO A. R. Jadhav said the university had paid Rs. 4,10,900 to the three lawyers. MU legal adviser Ajit Karwande received a letter from advocate R. A. Rodrigus on 11th July, 2011, with bills that needed to be settled: professional charges of Dada (Rs. 3,30,900), Engineer (Rs. 45,000) and Talekar (Rs. 35,000).
Irrelevant Information:
Rejecting an RTI application filed by a Kandivali resident seeking information of the last 10 years on the appointment, transfer and retirement of Government employees in Maharashtra, Ratnakar Gaikwad (Chief SIC) wrote in the order:
“Applicants should not ask for detailed and irrelevant information as public information officers (PIOs), besides performing their statutory duties, are also engaged in the task of providing information to the people. In such circumstances, it would be appropriate if such information is sought which would bring in transparency and accountability in administration, halt corruption and is in public interest.”
