Enhance Amount of Social Welfare Pensions of Citizens: RTI Activist

 Jammu, 30/Jan/2023: RTI Activist Raman Sharma, hailing from Jammu have urged the union finance minister Nirmala  Sitharaman to enhance the amount of  monthly social welfare pensions of the citizens which is given to senior citizens, widows, orphans, physically disables and other kind of vulnerable sections of the society. In his appeal, Sharma said given the present inflation rate, the amount given to the citizens under social pension schemes is too meager and it should be rationalize in comparison to present inflation rate.

He also demanded that union government should also  sanction and approve inclusion of more people under social welfare pension schemes because at present the applications for inclusion of beneficiaries  remain pending with the social welfare department with months and years for approval because of limited funds as released by the union government. In his appeal , the RTI activist also requested for ensuring minimum wages paid to the daily rated workers and provision of life insurance for each skilled and unskilled labour.

He also said the students belonging to economic weaker sections studying in government and private schools should also be provided free books, uniform and fee waiver/discount  and the  specific provision should be made in the budget to stop exploitation of poor people.

Contrary to Gadkari’s statement, 3 toll plazas operational within 60-km in J&K

Contrary to Gadkari’s statement, 3 toll plazas operational within 60-km in J&K 

Arteev Sharma  

The News Now

 Jammu: In contrast to the Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways (RTH) Nitin Gadkari’s much-talked about statement in the Parliament on removing fee plaza within 60 kms from preceding and succeeding toll plaza, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has candidly admitted that three such toll plazas are permitted and operational in Jammu and Kashmir. The NHAI, however, claimed that fee plazas functioning within a 60-km range are permitted “in accordance with sub rule 2 of rule 8 of NH Fee Rule 2008 and Fee Rules 1997 as applicable”.

 

“The three toll plazas having a distance of less than 60-km range between Start Plaza and Destination Plaza include Kachkoot-Urjoo (39-km), Bann-Thandikhui (42-km) and Lamber-Kachkoot (40-km),” the NHAI said in an RTI reply to the noted Jammu-based activist Raman Sharma.

“Honble Minister, RTH in Parliament (March 2022) has announced to remove the fee plaza within 60 kms from preceding and succeeding fee plaza. The extant guidelines for location of fee plaza may be referred under Rule 8 of NH Fee Rules 2008 which is available on toll based website of NHAI i.e. tis.nhai.gov.in. The distance criteria for establishment of a fee plaza have come into existence after NH Fee Rules 2008 and there were no such criteria in earlier NH Fee Rules 1997,” the NHAI said in another reply.

"I will ensure that there will be only one toll plaza within 60 km and if there’s a second toll plaza, then it will be shut in the next three months,” Gadkari had said while replying to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the demands for grants pertaining to his ministry in March this year.

 

The NHAI, however, justified the operationalization of Bann Toll Plaza and Thandikhui toll plaza within a distance of 42-km, saying two plazas were located on two different sections.

“Ban Toll Plaza is located km. 22+600 on Jammu-Udhampur section whereas Thandikhui toll plaza is located at km 88+300 on Lakhanpur-Jammu section. The distance between Thandikhui toll plaza and Lakhanpur toll plaza is 71.90km,” the NHAI had said in a separate reply.

It said that the Government of India had earlier announced the intent to implement satellite-based tolling in India to ensure seamless movement of vehicles along tolled roads in India in line with the vision of toll booth free.

Pertinently, the NHAI has set up six toll plazas on a potholed and unfinished highway between Lakhanpur and Srinagar. It has been generating a whopping around Rs 400 crore annually by way of toll being collected from these toll plazas.

The matter of concern for a highway user is that there has been over 100 percent increase in revenue generation for the NHAI on the toll plazas in Jammu and Kashmir during the last six years. It has been done by way of levying heavy toll tax on highway users despite the fact that the condition of roads has not been improved satisfactorily.

The NHAI has also planned to establish two more toll plazas on the upcoming Jammu Ring road starting from Raya Morh in Samba district up to Jagti in Jammu district and Srinagar Ring road.

https://www.thenewsnow.co.in/newsdet.aspx?q=148708

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Sample RTI Application Uder RTI Act 2005

 Sample RTI Application under Right to Information Act 2005

RTI FEES SAMPLE

CIC takes serious note of 'Lackadaisical Approach' of JU towards RTI Act

 

CIC Cautions Jammu University in its dealing with RTI Applications

 

CIC takes serious note of Lackadaisical Approach of JU towards RTI Act

 

Jammu, 02/June/2022:  Taking serious note of lackadaisical approach of Jammu University in processing and disposing of  applications under Right to Information Act received from citizens, the Central Information Commission (CIC)  has asked the  Jammu University to be cautious in future.

While deciding second appeal of RTI activist Raman Sharma against the Jammu University wherein the appellant has alleged that Jammu University had  not provide him any information despite lapse of stipulated period of time.

In his appeal, before the commission Sharma had stated that he had submitted his RTI application dated 11-02-2020 under a proper receipt from the postal department   but as he was not supplied any information or intimation by the Public Information Officer  of the Jammu University within 30 days, therefore on 23/06/2020 he then filed a 1^st  Appeal before the first Appellate Authority (within Jammu University) but there also he did not get any appropriate response therefore he preferred his second appeal before the Central Information Commission on 10/08/2020.

During proceedings before the Central Information Commission on 31/05/2022 via video conference, the Jammu University (respondent)  was represented by Dr Imran Farooq, who is designated Public Information Officer-II.

During the proceedings Dr Imran informed the commission that there are two Public Information Officers in the Jammu University and the said RTI application of the appellant Raman Sharma has not been received by either of them. Dr Imran also submitted before the commission that the appellant did not submit any fresh RTI application as was asked by the First Appellate Authority.

The Chief Information  Commissioner YK Sinha disagreeing with the arguments of the Public Information Officer of the Jammu University admitted the appeal and stated that contention of the Respondent (PIO) that the RTI application was not received by them is ‘unfathomable’ as the dispatch receipt  of the  RTI application was annexed with the Second Appeal.

Thus the  Chief Information Commissioner directed the PIO_II of the university to ensure that a point wise response in accordance with provisions of the RTI Act is provided to the appellant by 30/06/202 under an intimation to the Commission as well.

In his three pages order the CIC also asked the PIO to remain cautious while dealing with RTI Applications and second appeals in future, since excuses such as non receipt of RTI application is not acceptable when the appellant has annexed copy of receipt.

The commission in its written order also noted  that if such a lackadaisical approach is encouraged then the purpose of the RTI Act 2005 will be defeated.

 

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Jammu Development Authority is entangled in Over 500 Court Cases, reveals RTI

 RTI Reveals JDA is entangled in 542 Court Cases

 Jammu, 15/Apr/2022: Established for  Preparation of Master Plan, Planned development of the Local Areas of Jammu and for providing housing accommodation to economically weaker sections and low income groups,  the JDA, Jammu Development Authority has entangled itself in legal battles as it has become party to over 500 court cases.

Jammu Development Authority, the government body responsible to ensure proper development of Jammu district and building law enforcing agency is presently facing 542 court cases including cases in  High Court and Supreme Court of India.

The information has been provided by Ajay Raina (KAS) Public Information Officer of the JDA under the Right to Information Act.

In reply to RTI application of Jammu resident Raman Sharma regarding the pending cases in different courts wherein   JDA   has been arrayed as appellant or respondent , the JDA vide its letter no JDA/AO/RTI/265/15 dated 04/Apr/2022 has stated  that there are 542 court cases wherein JDA has been arrayed as party in the cases.

In its reply, Ajay Raina, Accounts Officer and  Public Information Officer of Jammu Development Authority has informed that there are 136 Cases Pending in Subordinate Courts, 404 in Honourable Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court and 02 cases pending in Supreme Court wherein Jammu Development Authority has been arrayed as party in these court cases.

RTI application seeking this information related to court cases was filed in the first week of February 2022 with the JDA and as per law, the information  should have been provided to the applicant within 30 days that is  in the month of March 2022, but in the present case the Public Information Officer has provided information to the applicant  after a long delay which is clear violation of the Right to Information Act 2005.

JDA Dumbs RTI Plea Seeking Info About Land Encroached by Mafias

 Jammu, 24/March/2022: Contrary to its claims of transparency and action against Land Mafias,  Jammu Development Authority, JDA  has failed to provide information about the total  land belonging to JDA is under occupation of Land Mafias and so far vacated and retrieved by it. 

Jammu resident Raman Sharma had filed an application dated 31/January/2022  under Right to Information Act with the JDA along with requisite fees as Indian Postal order  bearing number 57F 913108 , the information seeker in his plea had sought details about the total land owned by JDA,  land under occupation of Land Mafias and also the detail of land so far retrieved and vacated by JDA from Land Mafias during the past 6-7 years.

The  RTI application was sent by way of Speed Post under receipt having no. EE894488167IN dated 31/01/2022.

As per the postal department online tracking system, this RTI plea was delivered to Jammu Development Authority on 01/Feb/2022 and under section 7(1) of the Right to Information Act  2005, the Public Information Officer of the JDA was legally bound to provide this information or reject it within 30 days i.e.  on or before 02/March/2022 but as per the statement of the Information Seeker the JDA has not provided any information or intimation to the applicant about his RTI application so far and has preferred silence.

Citing section 7(2) of the RTI Act 2005, the applicant informed  that wherein the PIO fails to give decision on an RTI application within 30 days time limit, it is deemed refusal and this deemed rejection of information  by JDA is illegal and arbitrary and he would contest it before the appropriate authority.

The information seeker further  disclosed that the other queries in his RTI application include seeking the detail of total number of cases pending against the Jammu development authority in Subordinate Courts of district Jammu, before the Honourable High Court and Honourable Supreme Court of India.

Government Shelves Jammu_Poonch Railway Line Project, Railway Board terms It ‘Financially Unviable’

 

RTI Reveals

Government  Shelves Jammu_Poonch Railway Line Project, Railway Board terms It  ‘Financially  Unviable’

Jammu, 17/March/2022: Government of India has shelved the prestigious Jammu Poonch Railway Line project for which the final survey report was submitted in year 2018 with an estimated cost of rupees 22,771 crore for laying Broad Gauge (BG) rail line connecting Jammu with  border district Poonch via Rajouri.

The information in this regard has been shared by Ministry of Railways Government of India in response to two different Right to Information applications by a Jammu based information seeker Raman Sharma.

In  response to the RTI pleas of the applicant,  Railway Board vide its Letters dated 07-March-2022 and 15 March 2022,  signed by Pankaj Kumar, Director Projects and Central Public Information of Railway Board has stated that the Survey for new railway line between Jammu to Poonch having length of 223 K.M was completed in 2017-18 but the project could not be taken forward being ‘ financially unviable’. The signed reply by the CPIO  further states that the survey has been shelved with the approval of the Railway board.

While responding to another query of the applicant  regarding any other proposal as on date  pending with the ministry of Railways for providing and Laying Rail Line between Jammu to Poonch, the Railway Board officer replied in negative and stated that presently there is no proposal under consideration for this line.

It is pertinent to mention here that Connecting border districts of Rajouri and Poonch with Jammu has been a decades old pending demand of social and political organization of these border districts.

 

https://theprint.in/india/jammu-poonch-railway-line-project-shelved-for-being-financially-unviable/877813/

https://infra.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/railways/jammu-poonch-rly-line-project-shelved-for-being-financially-unviable/90302414