Saturday, January 25, 2014

Asked Information pertains to excavation and digging done by the ASI on a 19th century fort in Village Daundia Kheda, Unnao in Uttar Pradesh which was started in October-2013.]

Detail of RTI  Information related  to excavation and digging done by the ASI on a 19th century fort in Village Daundia Kheda, Unnao in Uttar Pradesh which was started in October-2013.

Finally after a wait of around 3 months i got it.....

















Tuesday, January 21, 2014

RTI : Govt Denies Info about Restoration of Bahu Fort Wall

RTI  Plea  gathers Dust in Culture Ministry


Govt Denies Info about Restoration of Bahu Fort Wall

Jammu, 20/Jan/2014: The state government’s ministry of culture is shying away from providing information under RTI Act  with regard to repair and restoration of a portion of wall of historic Bahu Fort of  Jammu that was collapsed due to  incessant rain on intervening night between 16 and 17 August last year.
An RTI application was filed with the  General Administration Department (GAD) on 16/Nov/2013 along with the requisite fees which was further transferred by GAD to the ministry of Culture (J & K Govt) within 5 days with a direction to provide the asked information but despite over a long delay of over 2 months the culture ministry has not served any reply to the applicant Raman Sharma. Though as per the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009, the information must be provided to the information seeker as expeditiously as soon as possible but not later than 30 days and in case when no response is made it is deemed as a refusal . While giving further detail about his RTI application, Raman informed that in his application he has sought information like  “Whether any intimation or message was conveyed to J & K government about the condition   of the said fort before the collapse of the said wall. If yes please provide copy of the same    and the details of steps being taken by the J & K government on that” and name of the agency department that is monitoring the restoration work, name and particulars of any consultant agency whose proficiency is sought by the government  and also about the amount sanctioned for restoration and copy of the tender documents etc. The information seekers said that the asked information was totally general in nature but deliberately the state government is denying it because they don’t believe in transparency and must be hiding facts  from the people of Jammu to conceal its failure and criminal negligence, he also alleged that firstly the state government  allowed this historic fort to collapse and now taking so much time even to start the restoration work . It is pertinent to mention here that after the collapse of a portion this historic Bahu fort , the state government was under severe criticism from social and political organizations and then to pacify the people the state government and its minister promised to complete the restoration work at an earliest .     

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Text Matter of RTI to JK Government

APPLICATION UNDER JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2009.
 To
 The Public Information Officer,
General Administration Department, Govt of J & K.
Civil Secretariat,  Jammu. 180001.
Respected Sir,
Provide me following details & Information under the provisions of Jammu &Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009. I am   a permanent resident the   State . An RTI fee of Rs. 10/-  is also annexed with this application as I.P.O vide no 08F 874922
INFORMATION SOUGHT
[ pertains to collapsed wall of historic Bahu Fort  at district Jammu ]
1.           Kindly provide the detail like name and particulars of the agency/department/ministry that is          monitoring the supervision of restoration work of the said collapsed wall of the historic          Bahu Fort.
2.            Kindly provide me the copy of the estimate report if any prepared till date for the restoration             of the above said collapsed wall.
3.            Total amount of money released so far for construction of the above said collapsed wall.
4.            Total amount of money released so far for construction of the above said collapsed wall.
5.            Also provide a copy of the work tender if any floated for restoration of the said wall.
6.            As on date as per official record the restoration work is being started yet or not.
7.            On what date the restoration work shall be started.
8.            Also intimate the detail i.e the kind of construction material that would be used for the             restoration of the above said wall.
9.            Name the consultant or any consultant agency whose consultation has been sough to start             the restoration work of the collapsed wall.
10.         Whether any intimation or message was conveyed to J & K government about the condition             of the said fort before the collapse of the said wall. If yes please provide copy of the same             and the details of steps being taken by the J & K government on that.

                                                            
Dated: 16/Nov/2013                                                                         Applicant
                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                              RAMAN SHARMA.

Address:    XXXXX     , JAMMU 180001,   Mob: 9796811012,  



Kind Attention: The Learned officer i.e Public Information officer is requested to timely dispose of this RTI request as per the provisions of the Right to information Act which clearly calls for promotion of transparency. To the best knowledge of the applicant, the points of information sought in this application are not covered under any exemption clause more specifically in section 8 of     J & K RTI Act 2009. So it is hoped that all the information shall be provided within stipulated period of time. 


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Historic Bahu Fort turned into  Debris; Courtesy criminal negligence of JK Government


Before Collapse : Historic Bahu Fort of Jammu, Witness of Jammu's History


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published in : Kashmir Times , Early Times, JK Newspoint, Rising Kashmir, State Times and many other dailies of Jammu on 21/Jan/2014

http://www.statetimes.in/news/govt-denies-info-restoration-bahu-fort-wall/

http://www.risingkashmir.com/govt-denies-info-about-restoration-of-bahu-fort-wall/

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Jmu City, Only 79 Three Wheelers Penalised In three months

Non Functional Fare Meters
Only 79 Three Wheelers Penalised In three months

Fare fixed by Transport department is RS. 16 for first kilometre and Rs. 12 for subsequent  kilometres
 Jammu, 11/Jan/2013: While submitting his reply after a written complaint by RTI activist Raman Sharma alleging that due to criminal negligence of RTO office, Jammu and with the help of some corrupt elements in JK traffic police the process of installation of meters in the auto rickshaws and three wheelers is yet not completed; the  Regional Transport Officer, RTO Jammu has apprised the Chief Minister’s Secretariat that 79 Auto Rivckshaws/three wheelers have been challaned  in the last three month for non operation of fare meters and also for not charging as per fare meters. Earlier in his complaint dated 09/11/2013 to the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell (44243) Raman has submitted that  the innocent citizens hiring the services of these autos and rickshaws are forced to pay excessive amount to these auto rickshaw and three wheeler drivers without any check. He has further alleged that neither any offices of the RTO office Jammu nor any Traffic police person or even the executive police which are also authorised to take a view of traffic regulations take any note of this mafia raj of the auto rickshaw and three wheeler driver and they are looting the innocent people.  RTO Jammu in counter reply  addressed to the CM Secretariat has stated that  the transport department is making constant checking of Auto Rickshaws and three wheelers plying in the city. In the past three months 79 Auto Rickshaws three wheelers have been challaned for various traffic offences under Motor Vehicles Act including non-operation of the fare meters. In its report the RTO has also confessed that Auto rickshaws are installed fare meters but all auto rickshaws three wheelers are not charging fare as per fare meters. Though  RTO Office has also submitted that during checking they ensure that fare charged as per the rates fixed by the department viz. RS.16 for first kilometre and Rs. 12 for subsequent  kilometres is prominently displayed inside Auto rickshaws for the convenience of the passengers. The report further states. While criticizing the Transport Authorities for penalising only 79 three wheelers for non-installation of fare meters in three month, Raman Sharma the complainant said that even less than one auto per day is fined for looting the commuters, this is nothing short of an eyewash to hide the incompetence of the responsible officers.

Published in JK Newspoint, Greater Kashmir on 12/Jan/2013

Raman Sharma Interview in Dainik Jagran 02/Oct/2013

Raman Sharma Interview in Dainik Jagran-02/Oct/2013, Special Edition, Josh


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

“Sangarsh RTI” Activists Call on Governor

“Sangarsh RTI”  Activists Call on Governor
            JAMMU, JANUARY 8: A delegation of “Sangarsh RTI”, comprising of Mr. Balvinder Singh, Mr. Raman Sharma, Mr. Dewakar Sharma, Mr.Deepak Sharma, and Mr. Harasis Singh called on Mr. N.N. Vohra, the Governor here at Raj Bhavan today.
            The delegation apprised the Governor about the experiences of the RTI activists in the State and their assessment about the effectiveness of the Right To Information Act-2009 to provide the demanded information to the applicants. The activists also pointed out specific important cases which were exposed consequent to initiatives taken by their organization.
            The delegation also briefed the Governor about the steps taken by their organization to generate awareness in the society about the usefulness of the RTI Act and the serious difficulties faced by the whistle blowers in the State, including serious threats to their lives.
            The Governor suggested to the RTI activists to publicize their success stories so that the anti-corruption movement could spread and be strengthened. While welcoming the delegation’s suggestion to involve Universities, colleges and other educational institutions in organizing workshops, seminars to disseminate the importance of RTI Act, the Governor stressed the importance of guarding against abuse of the provisions of the RTI Act.

            The Governor was presented a User Guide on the “Right To Information Act-2009” by the delegation. The Governor suggested that this Guide could be published in vernacular languages in order to extend its reach and make it accessible to non- English knowing persons.
 Honourable Governor NN Vohra in meet with RTI Activists at Raj Bhavan, Jammu.




Text of    of  Memorandum submitted to Governor.



 To
The Honourable Governor,
Jammu and Kashmir State,
Jammu.

Subject: Memorandum Carrying Demands/Suggestions for Strengthening 
                 Right to Information Act in Jammu and Kashmir State.

Respected Sir,

We the following RTI Activists and members of the Sangarsh RTI Movement in JK wish to submit the following important points to your kind notice and intervention to strengthen Right to Information Act in J & K State to bring accountability and transparency in the governance and administrative set up. The details are as follow:
As your good self is well aware that state government vide SRO no 279 dated 30/Aug/2012 have amended the RTI Rules without any public consultation and even without seeking any recommendation from the State Information Commission, this amendment has obviously curtailed the powers of the State Information and ultimately affected the law. RTI Activist of the state and even the former Chief Information Commissioner of India Mr. Wajahat Habibullah had opposed these amendment and have urged the government to review its order. The State government be directed to restore the earlier rules i.e. Jammu and Kashmir Rules 2010.
There are number of instances where the information seekers have been pressurised and harassed by different Authorities for seeking information under RTI Act, a number of RTI activist here in our state have also received Life threats. So there is an urgent need to set up such a mechanism so that the information seekers/citizens can seek information under the RTI Act without any fear and bring important issues and unmask corrupt practices in the administration and in different public departments.

As per section 23 of J & K RTI Act 2009, it is legal duty of the State government to develop and organize educational programs for the awareness of the act for general public and training programs for the Public Information Officers but so far the state government has conducted no awareness program for the public, though the state government has started training programs for the officers. The  government must comply the provisions of the act involving stake holders to organize mass awareness programs at Block and Panchayat Level.

As per section 4 of Jammu and Kashmir Right to information Act, 2009 certain kind of information needs to be proactively disclosed by all the public authorities but unfortunately only a few Public Authorities have been able to publish such information on their official website or on notice boards, even today after more than 4 years since enactment of the act this important provision of the act has not been adhered by the government departments. All the heads of the departments be asked to strictly follow this provision of the law and public the relevant information at an earliest.

There is deficiency of assisting staff at Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission which is the apex body for dealing with matters related to RTI Act. Without adequate staff, the smooth functioning of the commission gets affected. The General Administration department may be directed to provide the required staff to commission at an earliest.  
The State Information Commission may also be directed to hold regular meetings with the members of the civil society and the RTI volunteers so that the stake holders can apprise the commission about their grievances for appropriate directions. As of now the SIC has not made any such mechanism for interaction with the stake holders.

The state Information commission may also be asked to strictly decide the cases as per the mandate of law irrespective any officers’ rank and file, without any fear and favour. The commission may also be directed to set up a mechanism so that on camera proceedings of the cases are held for larger transparency and to build confidence of the citizens on this institution.  
There is no special assisting staff provided to the Public Information Officers/ Assistant Public Information Officers and appellate authorities to provide information to the information seekers, even there is no budgetary provision for the implementation of the RTI Act.  The PIO’s also complaint  that they have no establish infrastructure in their respective offices for smooth performance of their duty. The state government may be asked to make budgetary provision for proper implementation of the act, all the PIO’s may be provided at least one exclusive clerk/assistant for disposal of RTI applications. The PIO’s who do not have any computer may kindly be provided the same without any delay.
The state information and Publicity department may kindly be asked to give wide publicity (in local languages through newspapers/TV/Radio ) to the important provisions of the  act to encourage the general masses to exercise their right.
All The universities of the state may kindly be roped in to enhance the scope of training and awareness of this transparency law. The universities at their own level and also with the help of government and private colleges be asked to organize regular state level, inter college/ district level awareness programs/seminars/ symposiums / debates. Our Organization Sangarsh RTI Movement Shall be pleased to provide all kind of assistance to the Universities and College for this noble cause.
We are hopeful that our submission would be considered by your good self. Thanks in anticipation !

Dated: 08/Jan/2013                                    Yours Faithfully,



Balvinder Singh,
Convener
Sangarsh RTI Movement


Raman Sharma,
Founder,
Sangarsh RTI Movement


Dewaker Sharma,
Advocate,
Member
Sangarsh RTI Movement


Harasis Singh,
RTI Activist, member,
Sangarsh RTI Movement


Deepak Sharma,
RTI Activist, member Sangarsh