Convinced that Right to Information Act 2005 was being sabotaged in Maharashtra, Member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam took a delegation of five prominent RTI Activists to meet Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on 29th June. The team met the CM at his Malabar Hill residence and presented a charter of demands for proper implementation of the RTI Act, including the need to appoint State Information Commissioners by a transparent and verifiable selection process.
They urged the government to phase out the current batch of SICs whose selection was based on political patronage and nepotism. They gave a written analysis of improper orders passed by Dr Suresh Joshi, Chief State Information Commissioner of Maharashtra, and complained that he was violating the RTI Act in letter and spirit. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan referred their submissions to the Chief Secretary, and assured that he would look into the matter immediately so the problems were eliminated and RTI was properly implemented.
The delegation led by Mohammed Afzal included G R Vora, Sunil Ahya, Krishnaraj Rao and Ravi Kiran Haldipur – RTI Activists who have been agitating at the State Information Commission since November 2008 for penalties to be imposed on Public Information Officers (PIOs) who unjustifiably deny information to citizens. The charter of demands was submitted on behalf of the ten RTI Activists who were jailed for 48 hours last month on Dr Joshi’s allegations of rioting and trespass.
“Correcting the faulty implementation of RTI Act is a priority area for the UPA government, both at Centre and in the State,” said Sanjay Nirupam after the meeting with the Chief Minister. “I have personally taken up this agenda, and shall follow it up with the Chief Minister and at higher levels,” he added.
The below items may be downloaded from http://www.box.net/shared/kr32jrnntv
1)Charter of Demands to Govt. of Maharashtra
2)Analysis of Dr Joshi’s mala fide orders
3)Photo of Sanjay Nirupam, MP, addressing a gathering of RTI Activists on 30th May
4)Photos of the five activists
Warm Regards,
Krishnaraj Rao
98215 88114
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