VIA E-MAIL / BY HAND
28 May 2012
Hon'ble
Mr. R.I. Singh, IAS (RETD),
Chief Information Commission,
Punjab State Information Commission,
SCO 84-85, Sector 17-C,
Chandigarh
160017
Respected Sir,
I wish to invite your kind attention towards the resolution passed by the Hon'ble Central Information Commission in its meeting held on 13.9.2011 (copy attached – as downloaded from the website of Central Information Commission) when it resolved that:
"The Central Information Commission expresses regret and takes note of the reported killings of and assault on the RTI users across the country. The Commission underlines the need to take urgent steps by the respective Governments for the safety and protection of the RTI users. The Commission strongly believes that it is the duty and responsibility of the respective Governments to safeguard the life and liberty of the RTI users for which purpose they should invoke the relevant penal provisions for the prevention and detection of such heinous crimes.
2. This Commission, therefore resolves that if it receives a complaint regarding assault or murder of an information seeker, it will examine the pending RTI applications of the victim and order the concerned Department(s) to publish the requested information suo motu on their website as per the provisons of law.
3. This Commission also resolves that it will take proactive steps in ascertaining the status of investigations/prosecutions of the cases involving information seekers and endeavor to have these processes expedited."
The above resolution of the Central Information Commission brought some relief and respite not only to RTI activists, but also to the Information seekers in general, who have suffered tremendously in their struggle for transparency, accountability and reduction in corruption and during which more than 15 have lost their lives and innumerable others have been severely injured and beaten up by vested interests.
As has been reported in the media, recently Mr. H.S. Rathee an RTI Activist from Panchkula was attacked by the PDS depot holders at the behest to the DFSC Panchkula. He was severely beaten up, all his papers were snatched and he was warned of with dire consequences if he continued with his RTI related activities. This matter is being taken up with the Haryana Authorities separately.
Also you honour were approached through a Speed Post Letter that one Mr. Sucha Singh of Village Jasraur (Tehsil Ajnala) was under threat from the PA/FAA/PIO of the Jasraur Co-operative Agriculture Society in complicity with the Ajnala Co-operative Inspector. There may be some action from your end, but the same has not percolate down to the concerned authorities well to initiate some remedial measures to protect the information-seekers.
Mr. Sucha Singh is an activist who had been using the RTI Act extensively ever since 2005, when the Right to Information Act 2005 was introduced. His main area of activity was to make the life of the people of the border Tehsil of Ajnala make easier and free from corruption. His family is also under threat and they suspect a motive.
I therefore request the Hon'ble Commission, through your good self, to take a approach similar to the one adopted by the Central Information Commission, in the Punjab State Information Commission too, and the rights of the Information-Seekers may be protected. Also It is requested that the State Government and the Public Authorities may please be sensitized regarding this.
Very Cordially yours,
Surendera M. Bhanot
3758 Sector 22-D,
Chandigarh-160022
28 May 2012
GREETINGS AND WARM REGARDS
Surendera M. Bhanot
- Coordinator, RTIFED, Punjab Chandigarh
- Youth for Human Rights International - YHRI - South Asia
- Jt. Secretary, Amateur Judo Association of Chandigarh
- Member, SPACE - Society for Promotion and Conservation of Environment, Chandigarh
No. 3758, Sector 22-D, Chandigarh-160022
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PHONE: 91-172-5000970
FAX: 91-172-5000970
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