GETTING INFO UNDER RTI IS NOT EASY IN PUNJAB.

HOW FUNNY!!! THE STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION OF PUNJAB IS REFERRING A JUNIOR AUTHORITY AS THE APPELLATE AUTHORITY.

CLEARLY SHOWS HOW IR-RESPONSIBLY THE WORKS ARE DONE EVEN IN THE MOST RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS.

READ THE STORY AND DETAILS BELOW:

Chandigarh, April 14 An advocate here had to wait for about a month in vain for a piece of information he had sought from the Director General of Police in Punjab under the Right to Information Act and finally knocked at the door of the state information commission to get his appeal admitted.

Advocate Sushil Gautam had sought information from the DGP regarding the vehicles owned by the Punjab Police and their insurance. The information was not given to him within the stipulated period of 30 days. Aggrieved, Gautam moved the State Information Commission to file an appeal which was turned down by the Commission. Refusing to admit the appeal, the Commission replied “Being a first appeal under the RTI Act, it may be filed before appropriate first appellate authority” little knowing that the first appellate authority is ADGP (Administration). Taken aback by the reply received from the Commission, Gautam wrote back.

“I had asked for information from the DGP Punjab Police vide application dated September 29, 2007. I did not get any reply, thus appeal was referred before your good self, but astonishingly you have declined to interfere on the ground that Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) is the second appellate authority and thus appeal has to go to ADGP (Administration) who is the first appellate authority in Punjab Police. Most humbly it is submitted that the information was requisitioned from DGP who is senior to the ADGP. It is not understood as to how ADGP can be the authority to entertain the appeal against the inaction of the DGP” Gautam’s letter said. However, the appeal has been admitted and the case is listed for hearing in the last week of April.

Information sought from the DGP under the RTI Act:

* How many vehicles does Punjab Police have which are registered with the Road Transport Authorities in the name of DGP, Punjab Police ?

* How many vehicles does Punjab Police have which are not registered with Road Transport Authorities?

* The vehicles owned by the Punjab Police, are they exempted from paying the road tax? If yes, under which authority/provision?

* Are the vehicles owned by the Punjab Police and registered in the name of DGP, Punjab Police, insured as required by the Motor Vehicle Act ?

* Are the vehicles owned by the Punjab Police insured? If no, then under which authority and provision of law?