[HumJanenge] Disclosure of the RDC enquiry Report on alleged Idol Theft in Biraja Temple of Jajpur district, Odisha cannot be disclosed , says OIC

 

Disclosure  of  the RDC enquiry Report on   alleged  Idol Theft  in Biraja Temple of Jajpur district  cannot  be disclosed , says  Chief  Information Commissioner.

 Dear  friends

 On dated 5.6.2010 ,  I had   submitted RTI Application to the PIO, Department of Law, Govt. of Odisha   seeking copy  of  the RDC enquiry Report on   alleged  Idol Theft  in Biraja Temple of Jajpur district. In response to RTI Application, the PIO intimated on 29.6.10 that   disclosure of the requested information would be violative  of section 8(1)(c ) and (h)  of the RTI Act.   Against the decision of the PIO, I made first appeal  to the  First Appellate Authority  who rejected  it and upheld the decision of the PIO.  I challenged the decision  in the Information Commission through complaint petition on dt. 13.8.10 which was registered as CC No. 2952/10.

 After around 2 years, State Chief Information Commissioner started hearing and heard  6 times .  During hearing the PIO submitted that there was demand to place the enquiry report  in Odisha Legislative assembly. Such request of the  Hon'ble Members  of the assembly  could not be conceded  to since  the scrutiny  of the report  is not yet  over.  It is apprehended that  if the  contents of the report  are disclosed, it may obstruct  effective  deal of the report and  in fact, it may  impede  the process of further probe  and prosecution of offenders  which will violate section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act.  The Commission agreed  with  this  argument   and said that  sharing the information with complainant  would  also cause  a breach of privilege  of the State Legislature { section 8(1)(c)}.  

 

 It needs to be mentioned here that  the incident occurred  in 2004  and    in view  large protest  and demand to take  action  against Mr. Prafulla Ghadei, then then Minister  who was allegedly involved in this  case , Chief Minister  directed  RDC,  Central Division to make an enquiry  into the matter. RDC enquired into the matter and produced the  report  to State Govt. in the same year.   Though 8 years have passed, the Govt. has neither disclosed the report not taken any action against the culprit on the basis of the report.   I think  the State Govt. with  malafide intention    is not  willing  to  disclose the report  to  save the  culprits.  When the enquiry  is over and report  produced, why the Govt. is sitting idle on the report  without taking any action even after  8 years.  The ground cited by the Commission for not disclosing the report is vague and useless.   As It was administrative order for enquiry, breach of   privilege  of the assembly  does not arise here . I will  challenge  the decision of the  Commission in Odisha High Court.

 

 Pradip Pradhan

M-99378-43482

Date- 6.1.13