Hubballi: Previously, the Public Information Officer (PIO) was appointed based on the RTI Act of any Department, which was used to provide information at no cost, if it was in five pages.
At present, some PIOS demands Rs 2, even though one page of information needs to be given.
They sent a letter by spending RS 25 for postage, and instructed the applicant to pay RS 2.
The applicant must send post orders (PO) from RS 2, which is not available at the post office, by spending RS 25-RS 30 for postage or courier .
Ironically it is that Pio will spend Rs 25 of the government’s money again to send information, even though it’s one page.
RTI activists accused it was an accidental action by officials to prevent residents from submitting RTIS.
As per the Law, PIOS will collect Rs 2 per page, to provide a copy of the certified information.
Bheemanagouda G Paragond, a RTI activist in Athani, told TII that he was ordered to pay Rs 2 for a page of information from the Karnataka Narcotics Control Department.
“Pio has sent this letter by spending RS 25 for registered posts.
As PO RS 2 is not available at the post office, we must get a PO Rs 10, and have to send it with a registered post by spending RS 25.
So it is a burden for citizens and The department is concerned, “he said.
Dr.
Shekhar Sajjana, a former state information commissioner, said that asking Rs 2 legally correctly, but it was ethically wrong.
“Pio will spend RS 25 to send a letter looking to RS 2, and will spend RS 25 again to send a page of information.
So certain departments or authorities will spend RS 50 to get RS 2.
Even though they spend for the post department, it is a burden On them.
However, officials are at least disturbed about unnecessary expenses.
Instead of making a letter and sending it to ask Rs 2 by spending RS 25, they can share information in the same envelope voluntarily, “he said.
J M Rajashekhara, who has written 16 books on the RTI Act, said that the previous information commissioner was used to instruct officials orally to provide information for free, if in five pages.
“According to the Act, the Non-BPL card holder must pay Rs 2 per page for information, in addition to being issued below Section 4 (1) (b) of the law.
When the state government collects Rs 10 as an initial cost, the Department of Personnel and Reformation Administration can issue a round to provide information of up to five pages, free of charge.
Someone does not need to wait for amendments; just circular will solve this problem, “he said.
Bhagoji T Khanapure, a drug controller, whose office has been looking for Rs 2, said that Pio had done it according to the law.
“If the applicant is not satisfied, he can appeal with the authority of the appeal” he added.