Noida officials openly flouting RTI rules, alleges activist

NEW DELHI - While the nation is celebrating four years of Right to Information (RTI) Act, officials of Noida authority seem to be working to stop the information flow to people, an activist alleged Monday.

“Under the RTI Act, a first appeal has to be heard by the appellate authority within 30 days. This time can extend up to 45 days if supported by a proper reason. However, Noida authority is openly flouting this rule, Commodore (retired) Lokesh Batra told IANS.

Batra filed an RTI application with Noida authority seeking details of first appeals disposed of between Jan 1 and May 29, 2009. He filed the application on May 29 and after going to first appeal appellate and complaining, he finally got the information Sep 23, which is over 110 days after filling the application.

“The reply revealed that during the particular period, the Noida authority heard or disposed of 94 first appeals. Of those 94, 73 were heard or disposed after the 45-day period,” Batra said.

“Because of this malpractice, appellants are deprived of getting information in prescribed time,” he said.

“I have complained to the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission in this regard and unless they take urgent action in this matter, RTI users will continue to be harassed in Noida,” he said.

The activist gave an example of another RTI application he had filed.

“I filed an RTI application on April 9 this year and when I didn’t get any answer, I filed my first appeal May 12. The first appellate authority heard the first appeal June 25, which is the 45th day of my filling the first appeal,” he said.

“In its order dated July 6, I was intimated that next hearing will take place Aug 13. This is ridiculous and playing with the rules of the act. The act clearly states that the appeal needs to be disposed during the 45-day period and there is no provision of any second hearing at the stage of first appeal,” he added.

The authority received 421 RTI applications during the same period.