Ministry of Earth Sciences making fun of spirit of RTI Act.
Ministry of Earth Sciences HQ now got its own building with fivel floors nearHabitat Centre Lodhi Road,New Delhicalled Prithavi Bhavan. The building was secretly inaugurated on 28.10.2011 inviting only a handful of 10/12 senior officials though E-Mail from Secretary’s Office dated 27.10.2011.
Unfortunately, the building having serious flaws which is against smoothing working of a Central Govt. Ministry like MoES. No Media invitation was extended on inaugural day which was held unceremoniously. Even the Minister in-charge Shri Vilash Rao Deshmukh and MOS, MoES Shri Ashwini Kumar were not invited. This was done, so that nobody could detect the huge bungling of funds worth Crores of rupees and starting from the construction of the building and its electrification/ computerization/furnishing/air-conditioning/ interiors etc. Everything is still in a half way mark even today on 23.01.2012. Huge payments were made only to private parties and no proper tender process was followed.
Till date NDMC & Fire Department have not issued NOC for the building. Even the Ministry has not replied the notice issued by NDMC. A temporary electricity connection for only 40 KVA is available against a required load of 800 kva for want of building completion certificate from NDMC.
An RTI was filed which raised the above issues. But the Reply (see the document ) received from the Ministry is an eye opener. How some people with vested interests make fun of the spirit of RTI Act.RTI reply from Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Experts kindly advice in the matter.
This definitely show their arrogance..
I will move this to RTI Leaks Category (Since that gets the view of the Media).. and lets get more opinions/action taken (like maybe a case filed ? )
lets file another RTI application with attaching a proof of citizenzip, and also we can ask for more in CD format..
1. I recommend:
(a)Ask the applicant to upload the copy of his original RTI application.
(b)See if he has correctly paid the fees, if so there is no question of attaching a BPL certificate.
(c) Declared himself citizen of India.
2. As regards the other two points. Take a snap shot of RTI page on the MoES website.
(a) He has nowhere asked for proof of citizenship to be furnished.( nor is it required under RTIA unless asked by the Public Authority)
(b) In suo moto declaration under sec 4 relating to information available in electronic form- has he declared that the information asked by the application is available in electronic format, if not then there should be no confusion in his mind that photocopies are to be provided.
application made by applicant is uploaded. Administrators of this website are requested to take up this matter with highter authorities and media.