Recently a study was done on four
groups. One, applied for a ration card and did nothing else. The
second, applied for a ration card and enclosed a recommendation of an
NGO. The third, applied for a ration card and also paid a bribe, the
fourth, applied for the ration card and followed up their application
with an RTI query. Needless to say group 1 & 2 never got any
reply. Groups 3 & 4 were given the ration cards.
This study proves that a lot can be
achieved using the Right to Information
Act. I have been using this tool for a while. It is not
always as easy as it seems and public servants use every trick in the
book to avoid giving the information. A few tips that may will help
you write a good query and hopefully get your work done.
The first step is to ensure that every
application addressed to the designated Public Information
Officer is accompanied by the Rs 10/- court fee stamp. If you
do not pay this fee, after 30 days you will get a reply saying that
your application is returned because the proper fee is not attached.
Writing the question!!! There is no use
venting your spleen in the RTI query. Remember you are asking for
information and not opinion. For e.g : I am looking for information
on plots allotted out of turn by GIDC. If I ask for a list of plots
allotted out of turn I will never get the answer, they will say no
plot is allotted out of turn. So instead I will ask for a list of
plots allotted during the period I wish to review. I would also ask
for a list of pending applications for a longer but overlapping
period. Once I get this data I will have to collate it and arrive at
a conclusion, plots were allotted out of turn.
Once, I did ask a stupid question. “How
many open spaces in Industrial estates have been converted?” The
answer was none, open spaces were relocated. Lesson learned. I asked
another question, “give me the old N/S/E/W boundaries and the new
N/S/E/W boundaries for relocated open spaces”. I added the trick
question. “Please state to whom these relocated open spaces were
allotted”.
Surprise, the answer gave me the new
location and the new owner’s names, open space cannot be allotted,
even if relocated. See the difference asking the correct question
makes!
If you must ask many questions, ideally
one should break it up into separate applications.
A brief and seemingly clear query can
evoke an answer on the 30th day,” your query cannot
understood and hence please clarify”. Why wait for 30 days to
inform you that the query is difficult to understand, simple waste
time.
Another ploy utislied is that the data
you have asked for can be given and is ready. However the
photocopying charges are say Rs 20000/-. Ofcourse this will shock
you. Do not worry. Ask for inspection of documents and copy only
those relevant to your query.
If you are denied information or you
believe the information is wrong, you can file an appeal with the
First Appellate Authority. My own experience is that it is no use,
but if you wish to go to the State Information Commissioner in
appeal, you will have to go through this step.
I have an appeal pending at “The
State Information Commission” so more on them later. First
impression they are helpful.
So next time you light a candle at an
Anti corruption meeting, remember, an RTI query will throw much more
light and the transparency will help reduce or stall corruption. Go
on ask your query under RTI, you have nothing to lose but your
ignorance. You will know the truth and the truth as they say will
make you mad (angry).
Very useful and informative post Blaise. Especially the part about drafting the query. Thanks.
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