What is Death?

On 4/8/12, Surendera M. Bhanot <bhanot1952@...> wrote:
> *NEVER MANIPULATE
> *Death came to a Man and said, “My friend today is your last day on the
> earth"*
> *Man : But I am not ready..
> *Death : Well your name is the next in my list..*
> *Man : Okay why don't you take a sit and I will get you something to eat
> before we go..*
> *Death thought for a moment and said : All Right..
> *The Man gave Death some food with sleeping pills in it. Death finished
> eating and fell into a deep sleep..* *The Man took the list & removed his
> name from top of the list and wrote it into the bottom of the list.*
> *When Death woke up, he said to the Man : Because you have been so very
> nice to me, I will start from the BOTTOM* *of the list..*
> *Moral of the story : Never Manipulate.*


--
Anand S.
Coordinator, Anti Corruption Forum
Bangalore 560 085.
Cell No. +91-87928-91066

With the decision in Writ Petition [civil] no. 4748 of 2007)on 15.04.2010, the
Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, New Delhi declared that stock
exchanges like National Stock Exchange of India, MCX-SX which deal in money of
Trillions of Rupees, and billions of petty investors are beyond RTI Act, 2005.
They can do any type of activity including Cheating and Breach of Trust (CBT)
but are not answerable to any authority because the Government is funding them.
Is there any RTI activist having knowledge of any judgement of the Supreme Court
of India or any other High Court which has/have declared Stock Exchanges are
under RTI Act, 2005?

Thanks,

Hari Goyal
rtidwarka@...
and haridgoyal@...
011-25082239 (M) 9312881883

Dear Fellows

An order was passed by Mr. R.I. Singh, Chief Information Commissioner Punjab in a Complaint Case  3375 of 2011 decided on 27 February 2012 (see Page 12) announcing therein the existence of an institution of Collegiums consisting of Chief Information Commissioner and two senior most Information Commissioners has been constituted with the approval of the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab. All complaints received against Information Commissioners in Raj Bhawan are forwarded for consideration of collegiums, which gives its view in the matter.  Final decision, however, is taken by his H.E. the Governor of Punjab after considering the matter.

This was a major deviation from the standard process of making complaints to the Governor of Punjab against the Information Commissioners under Section 17 of Right to Information Act 2005.

By the constitution of this Collegium, State Information Commission Punjab has ensured in one stroke that:

1. The operation of process of law  (Section 17) has been very cleverly subverted.
2. The Raj Bhawan has been taken care of.
3. No complaint against them ever gets to see the light of the day ever.
4. Their tenure is go scratch less. This is a sarcastic case of “I SCRATCH YOUR BACK – YOU SCRACH MINE” AND WE BOTH ARE HAPPY.

A RTI Application dated 14 March 2012 (Pages 08-11). was filed with the PIO of the State Information Commission. The information received is very revealing.

• Commission did a brain storming exercise with Central Information Commission and all the State Information Commissions, before coming out with this sarcastic idea of formation of a collegium. However despite all efforts there had been negligible response and even some of the states replied that there is no mechanism in the Commission regarding action on complaints against the State Information Commissioners  (See File 01 Annexure-B – Letter dated 16.03.2011).
• In the same vein Commission noted that “Keeping in view of the public interest, the matter was placed before the full commission in the meeting held on 16.02.2011 and it has been resolved (sic to form a collegium). Commission has not elaborated on the Public Interest in this matter.
• Commission claimed the need arose to set up a collegium as the RTI ACTIVISTS’ FEDERATION PUNJAB is PUSHING complaints against the various Information Commissioners. (Remarks of the SMB - In fact the Collegium dealt with 41 complaints in its 14 sittings and only one complaint of Mr. Balbir Aggarwal has been from the RTI ACTIVISTS’ FEDERATION PUNJAB which was discussed in meetings dated 19.07.2011 of collegium consisting of R.I. Singh CIC, Kulbir Singh, PPS Gill SICs, 08 complaints decided on this meeting).
• Commission goes at length to explain that the Collegium Set up under section 15(4) of the RTI Act (See reply of PIO at page 13-17).
• Commission claim that the Collegium is an administrative arrangement and has nothing to do with the judicial function of the commission (as revealed in various meetings of the collegium dealing with the complaints).
• The collegium dismissed majority of complaints at his own level without refereeing its finding to the HE Governor of Punjab.
• It is also noticed that the most complainant has not framed their complaints as per provisions of Right to Information Act 2005 and very few were addressed to HE Governor of Punjab. Most complaints were addressed to State Information Commission Punjab, some to Nodal Department.
• Governor sent all complaints in original to the Nodal Department and very few to the Collegium.
• At Nodal Department, all complaints found their way to nowhere.

The reasons attributed to dismiss the complaints are on the following pages.

Please go through the attached files and offer your comments. That will help me file an Appeal under Section 19(1) and a Complaint too. Though, these will land with those very people who engineered this ploy to save them, and no justice is expected from them, yet it is a process to go through and it will ultimately help me during CWP in high court.

Dear Vikram,

It is so good to see that you have noted that despite venkatesh
originally being from Your state  he has moved beyond it and dedicated
himself to the service of the nation through CHRI.
I shall certainly view the DD telecast today to see what Prof
M.M.Ansari says on the question of RTI misuse.

Sarbajit

On 4/20/12, Vikram Simha <vikramsimha54@...> wrote:
> Freinds Please take your time out and see this programme . Mr Venkatesh
> Nayak Origibnally From Our state and Now programme Coordinator access to
> information with CHRI is One of the Panelist and the Subject also is Very
> important . Spread the word and Mail your feedback to me
> N vikramsimha , KRIA Koota, #12 Sumeru Sir M N Krishna Rao Road , Basvangudi
> < Bangalore 560004.
>
> --- On Fri, 20/4/12, Dhirendra <dhirendrakrishna@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: Dhirendra <dhirendrakrishna@...>
> Subject: [rti4ngo] Panel discussion about misuse of RTI Act
> To: rti4ngo@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, 20 April, 2012, 8:52 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: venkatesh nayak <nayak.venkatesh@...>
> Date: Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 10:09 AM
> Subject: TV recording on RTI
> To: NCPRI <ncpri.india@...>, Inayat Sabhikhi
> <inayat.sabhikhi@...>
>
> Dear all,
> I did a recording with DD News yesterday on the issue of the CJI's remarks
> about the misuse of the RTI Act. Prof. M M Ansari was the other panelist.
> The programme will be telecast under the title Janane ka Haq on Saturday
> (21st) morning at 10.30 and retelecast on Sunday (22nd) morning at 10.00.
> Thanks
> Venkat
>
> --
> National Campaign for People's Right to Information
> Email: ncpri.india@...
> www.righttoinformation.info
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Dear all ,
Freind Kalidas Reddy has Brought out certain Very pertinant Points to Fore .
Long back in 2007 itself freinds in Karnataka gave a thought and a call to all
Crusaders /Activists/users/beneficiaries of RTI that they should have one common
agenda of Ensuring that all PAs should Publish the Suomoto declarations
Extensively and in Full without any Concealment .I am Proud to Note that Scores
of Like Minded Persons in all the Above Cited Categories Heeded to our Word and
As Result One Group Now can Do some Analysis . How Foar it is on Par with the
"AUDIT of Proactive Disclosure" as Envisaged by the Nodal Agencies is a
Verydifferent Issue .
However even the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the Answer sheet Case also Gave
Extensive Directions on the Proactive Declaration .
It is very arguably the Heart of the RTI ACT and Except in a very Few instances
the Inclination and Mindset of ALL INDIA SERVICE OFFICERS to Reveal all , not be
Opaquae and be Fully transparent .
I Commend Mr Kalidas Reddy An Young Man of his Thought Provoking Mail and
"SALUTE" all those Freinds who without Fear or Favour Ensured that PAs Declare
their Proactive Disclosures Extensively .
Incidentally I would also Thank Mr KK mishra and KA Tippeswamy  Former
Information Commissioners who Supported us at every point in this Matter.
Yes offcourse the present Set of IC's in KIC are Rather Averse to this Idea
N vikramsimha , KRIA Koota & RTI study center  , #12 Sumeru Sir M N Krishna Rao
Road , Basvangudi < Bangalore 560004.


--- On Sat, 21/4/12, pinniti kalidas reddy <kldsrddy@...> wrote:

> From: pinniti kalidas reddy <kldsrddy@...>
> Subject: Fw: Analysis of Pro Active or Suomoto Declarations of 7 PAs
> To: "Vikram" <vikramsimha54@...>
> Date: Saturday, 21 April, 2012, 1:12 PM
>
>
> --- On Sat, 21/4/12, pinniti kalidas reddy <kldsrddy@...>
> wrote:
>
> > From: pinniti kalidas reddy <kldsrddy@...>
> > Subject: Analysis of Pro Active or Suomoto Declarations
> of 7 PAs
> > To: kchamaraj@...
> > Cc: kria@...
> > Date: Saturday, 21 April, 2012, 1:11 PM
> > Madam & all Freinds,
> > I am Glad to Note by the Mails Recd by me about this
> > Analysis by & mr Guru
> > However i would like to Point out that all of you will
> be
> > doing a Grave In justice and Great Blunder if you
> donot
> > Record for Posterity the Great Work done by a Few
> > Individuials Like me and others in First nsuring that
> these
> > Public Authorities Publishing their "suomoto"
> declarations
> > itself . Without which you could not do any analysis
> except
> > ofcourse Record as" 7 years over no 41b declaration
> carried
> > out hence not analysed or even Not Available"
> > The Ground work for publication of these by
> enforcement
> > through RTI requests Follow up on them to a logical
> end
> > through KIC and NCC was done by aVisionary person
> living
> > here in Bangalore .
> > We all call him our "pithamaha" like Bhishma .
> > I for one Have done extensively to Ensure that BWSSB
> > publishes 41b suomoto according to YASADHA &CGG
> > guidelines .
> > It went to the exent of myself and my guru going over
> to Mr
> > Venkatrajus  Engineer in Chief BWSSB office Spending
> > one full day instructing his subordinates officers
> inspite
> > of very rigid and stiff opposition by BWSSB PRO Mr
> Prahlad
> > Rao going to extent of Questioning YASHADS credibility
> etc
> > etc .Proof of this is the Appeal Filed before KIC and
> its
> > Result .
> > Work of Mr Vincent , Veeresh , Vikram in Ensuring that
> these
> > Declarations are Provided at 50% cost also has to be
> > Applaudesd and Recognised
> > I hope that if you donot give due credit to Scores of
> other
> > RTI crusaders it will just an Academic Excersise
> > This Mail is being Circulated to All Like minded
> Persons
> > Throught the Country
> >
>

Hindustan Times

SC to Form Norms for Appointing Info Bosses

Bhadra Sinha

New Delhi, April 20, 2012

Amid rising criticism over lack of transparency in the appointment of information commissioners in the central and state information commissions, the Supreme Court on Friday said it would examine the issue to lay down guidelines to ensure it did not become “property of a politica……….

Surendera M. Bhanot
writes to Bhadra Sinha of Hindustan Times

SC has taken a right step. The Governments are dolling out the employment to their chosen ones and they have made the mockery of the RTI Law. There no systematic and consistent approach for the delivery of justice to the appellants/complainants. Every Info Commissioner is having its own idea about the law and every one dose its own novel way and inconsistent with the already decided case.  ...................Read on full text 

or visit here http://www.rtifed.com/forum/Thread-SC-to-Form-Norms-for-Appointing-Info-Bosses

Dear Fellow,

Recently, a RTI Applicant who filed 2 RTI Applications with the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Ajnala District Amritsar was threatened of dire consequences if he dies not withdraw his RTI Application. The people who threatening includes the Inspector working in the office of Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies at Ajnala and other goons of the Secretary of the Jasraur Cooperative Agriculture Service Society (JASS), of which the RTI Applicant is a member.

The applicant used RTI route to bring about the transparency in the working of JASS and to stop the mal practices going on in over there. In and SOS Compliant to the Chief Information Commission Punjab has pleaded for the protection from the threateners. The copies of the letters written to the Chief Information Commission have also been endorsed to Punjab Human Rights Commission, Sector 34, Chandigarh.

Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Punjab, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, Hon’ble SSP (Rural) Amritsar, SHO, Police Station Bhindia Saidan, Tel: Ajnala, Distt. Amritsar, Joint Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Jallandhar, and Deputy Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Amritsar.

This latest threat is a series of threats received by the RTI Information seekers and many had resulted fatal, as the authorities failed to take timely action in time. Copy of the letter written to various authorities is attached.

a division Bench of the High Court comprising Justices M.M. Kumar and R.N. Raina in recent past  (on 08 December 2011) asked the States of Punjab, Haryana and the UT Chandigarh to review their Whistle-Blower Protection Policies and consider associating civilians also in the process of assessment of threat perception to the Whistle Blowers, including RTI Activists. Division Bench had observed that “We are of the considered view that the policies of Punjab, Haryana as well as UT Chandigarh are required to be made broad-based. The concerned committees are not only required to have in it Police officers or other officers, there is necessity to associate either Members of the Bar or other private persons like District Attorneys/ Advocate Generals, depending upon the level of the concerned Committees.”

In another case the High Court bench, taking the matter very seriously, ordered”the Bench noticed that Arora has filed several cases in the High Court thereby bringing the illegal activities of various persons to the notice of the High Court, and in view of what he has stated in para no. 3 of his application also, he faces a real threat perception.  The Bench also took note of petitioner’s submission that he requires security of Chandigarh Police only on 3 or 4 occasions in a year, when he may be required to visit Punjab. The Bench also recorded the assurance of the Senior Standing Counsel for UT Chandigarh administration to do the needful, and directed that whenever petitioner has to visit Punjab, he would communicate it to the SSP, Chandigarh, who would provide requisite security to him for visiting Punjab.”

This matter is gathering dust in the air-conditioned secure rooms of the bureaucrats. 

My article on Right to Information (RTI) "Why dis infoveri?" published in The
daily Telegram , a largest circulated daily in Andaman

To view the full text... click ...
http://andamantamilnenjan.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/why-dis-infoveri/

By Kuldeep Singh Khaira

PUNJAB STATE INFORMATION COMMISSION FLOUTS ITS OWN REGULATIONS

State Information Commission, Punjab does not bother to follow the information disseminated on its website
As per manual iii of the section 4(1)(b) available on its website, "The Commission receives appeals against the orders of appellate authorities under section 19 of the RTI Act. These are placed before the CIC. The appeals are decided after giving opportunity of hearing to both the parties. It is pertinent to mention here that the cases are considered as disposed of only after confirmation of compliance of the orders of the Commission.” But in practice the Commission does not bother to follow what it says on its website u/s 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act.

In the instant (AC 1134/2011) I had demanded the information regarding the construction of Zone-D building of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and the Commission, vide order dated 13.12.2011, gave the directions to the respondent PIO (Sh. Dharam Singh, deemed PIO-cum-SE) to bring a copy of FIR registered in connection with the missing file but on the next date of hearing dated 09.02.2012 he had not enclosed a copy of FIR so registered despite issuance of directions given on hearing dated 13.12.2011. Accordingly, PIO-cum-S.E. was once again directed to bring a copy of FIR registered in connection with the missing file on the next date of hearing, i.e. today.

To know the status about the registration of FIR, when the Appellant contacted the Sh. Dharam Singh, deemed PIO over his official mobile no. 97800-39406 yesterday, he told me that police authorities been asking the LMC to name the persons involved in missing file and he has demanded the file of Departmental Inquiry report of Committee headed by Sh. Sh. A.K. Singla S.E.(B&R) which was ordered by First Appellate Authority-cum-Commissioner, LMC in the instant case. Sh. Dharam Singh told the Appellant that he would present before the Commission today and make a request for some more time to lodge the FIR in the instant case.

In the instant case, LMC officials have not lodged the FIR till date against the person responsible for missing file and Sh. B.C. Thakur, SIC disposed of the case without bothering to honour its orders dated 13.12.2011 and 09.02.2012 despite the fact that I had put all the facts before the Commission in shape of written submission duly received in the Commission against dairy no. 6721 and demanding an adjournment by my representative.

This all has been done to save the skin of culprit responsible for missing file and higher officials who had taken the decision to construct the Zone D building on the area of “Green-Belt”.

RTI ACTIVISTS FEDERATION, PUNJAB

 PRESS CONFERENCE 

ABOUT ASSUALT ON MR. H.S. RATHI OUR VICE-PRESIDENT, OUTSIDE DFSC OFFICE IN PANCHKULA ON 30 APRIL 2012 IN CONNIVANCE WITH MOTIVATED OFFICERS OF
FOOD AND SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HARYANA

Advocate  H.C. Arora, President RTI Activists Federation, Punjab
humbly invite you to attend a press conference on
05 May 2012 (Saturday) at 3.00 PM 

at  Press Club, Chandigarh.