[HumJanenge-YG] KU: Ignorant of rules, PIO returns RTI Application - Early Times - 11 Nov. 2010

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Early Times Report
Jammu/Srinagar: Nov 11

Shying away from the transparency law and also in an attempt to
misinform, desist and demoralize RTI applicants, Public Information
Officer of Kashmir University has returned an RTI application with a
frivolous argument.

An RTI application dated October 17, has been rejected and returned to
the applicant for want of a Bank Draft instead of Indian Postal Order.
The applicant Raman Sharma, (known RTI campaigner) has attached Indian
Postal Order No. 34G 188096 of Rs. 50 as fees along with his RTI
application. The ground of rejection has been stated in the rejection
letter dated November 1 issued and signed by the PIO as, "This is to
inform you that the application cannot be entertained due to deficit
of requirement under RTI, Act, 2006. It is therefore; requested to
please deposit an amount of Rs. 50 through bank draft".
Raman Sharma, who has put more than 300 applications under Central RTI
Act 2005 and J & K RTI Act 2009, castigated the decision of the Public
Information Officer, terming it as a conspiracy against the most
essential civil right i.e. RTI Act.

He told that in all his 300 plus previous RTI applications he had
submitted fees in shape of Indian Postal Order and none of the PIO
objected on this matter.

Now in return, the disappointed activist in a communication letter
addressed to the PIO Kashmir University has advised the PIO to go
through the RTI Act properly, his letter reads as "There is no Act
known as RTI, Act, 2006; the applicant takes this opportunity to
enlighten the knowledge of the PIO that there are only 2 RTI acts one
known as RTI Act 2005, central act and the other is J & K RTI Act 2009
and the esteemed institution of Kashmir University comes under the
purview and mean of the latter act. Now through this letter I request
you to kindly devote some time to re-read the J & K RTI Act 2009 for
sincere dealing of RTI applications".

The RTI activist, Raman Sharma explained that under the Jammu and
Kashmir RTI Rules 2010, page 3, chapter III, rule 4(1) related to fee
and cost there is provision that an application may be submitted in
shape of IPO/Bank Draft or Bankers Cheque. Along with the letter and
RTI application he has also sent a copy of RTI rules to the concerned
PIO.
He said the reason specified for rejection of his RTI application
depicts that the in Jammu and Kashmir state PIO's make every possible
attempt to disallow information. He also informed that his application
would unveil many important issues related toKashmir University and as
such he would strive hard to get the reply by all means. Convener, J K
RTI Movement, Dr. Muzaffar Bhat also criticized the University
administration for delaying tactics in dealing with the RTI
applications.