Patils directions upset RTI activists

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 7

UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil has received flak for directing UT officials to ascertain the motive of RTI activists. Advocate and RTI activist Ajay Jagga, in his statement, said the spirit and even the language of the RTI Act, 2005, nowhere permits the state or the UT to ascertain the motive behind seeking information under the RTI Act. As per Section 6 (2) of the Act, an applicant need not give any reason for seeking information. It states: "An applicant making request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details, except those that may be necessary for contacting him." Ajay Jagga suggested that the Administration should be people-friendly in such matters and respect the law and RTI activists, too, should go the right way to get the needful done. This would help avoid the unnecessary confrontation between the Administration and the common man, he said. RTI activist and president of the Anti-Corruption Society Jaspal Singh said as per the Act, a person seeking information could not be questioned. The UT Administration and the UT Administrator instead of issuing such directions should make efforts to address grievances of residents. On Monday, city-based RTI activist RK Garg, who had turned up at Patil's public darbar, had alleged that when it was his turn, Patil started asking the UT officials to ascertain the motive behind seeking information under the RTI Act. Disappointment City-based RTI activist RK Garg alleged that when it was his turn, Patil started asking the UT officials to ascertain the motive behind seeking information under the RTI Act. RK Garg, who had approached the Administrator to take up issues related to the general public, alleged that his pleas went unheard and the Administrator told the officials to find out the motive of the RTI activists. It took me three months to get through to the Administrator. I wanted to take up six issues with him, but the way he dealt with applicants was shocking, said Garg.