Moodbidri: RTI officer accused of withholding information

Media Release

Moodbidri, 25 August 2011: Jaison Suvaris Takode, the editor of nammabedra.com, has accused A. V. Ganesh, the RTI officer of Moodubidri Town Municipality of not providing information requested under the RTI Act. He was addressing reporters at a press conference held at Moodubidri today.

 

Mr. Suvaris said that he had requested information about permission granted to construct buildings within municipality limits, under RTI Act of 2005, on June 24, 2011, and that the officer was required to provide the information within 30 days. Although 60 days have passed after Mr. Suvaris applied for the information, the officer stands guilty of the grave offence of not providing the information. The officer could be given a grace period of 15 days to supply the information, but he has not done so even after one month, complained Mr. Suvaris.

 

 

Alleging that corrupt officials are not adhering to RTI laws, Mr. Suvaris said that the officer’s failure to provide the required information proves that things are not going on in a legal manner at the Moodubidri Town Municipality. Mr. Suvaris said that he intended to publish the information on his website, but since the officer is not providing the required information, he has decided to lodge a complaint with the district commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district.

 

Complaining about the irregularities at the municipality, he said the officers have absolutely no discipline and do not provide required services in time, causing a lot of inconvenience to the public. He alleged that concerned officers harass the people by taking days just to sign documents that are already in order.

 

He accused the officer of refusing to provide the information because it might bring to light certain shocking scams. He said that he will lodge a complaint with the DC of DK and the chief secretary of the Government of Karnataka, demanding justice.