| Misleading reply under RTI, GPO unaware about Excel format! | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 24: The General Post Office (GPO) Srinagar has provided a misleading information to an RTI Activist wherein the Senior Postmaster has informed in writing that information under RTI Act cannot be provided in an excel format. The GPO officials seem to be unaware that Excel format is an easy mode of providing information and due to lack of computer knowledge they have related excel with an RTI section. The reply sent via speed post under letter No: RTI /MISC/2015 Dated 20/06 /2016 reads as : " The Information sought to be supplied in an excel format does not fall under the purview of section 2 (F) of Right to Information Act 2005"
Details available with Early Times reveal that information seeker Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat had filed an application under Central RTI Act 2005 before PIO of General Post Office (GPO) Srinagar on 11.6.2016. Information seeker wanted details about the number of Indian Postal Orders of Rs 10 denomination supplied to various post offices from June 2015 to May 2016 ? The post offices about which information was sought included Rajbagh, Jawahar Nagar , Natipora, Rambagh , Bagh e Mehtab, Chadoora, Wathoora, Budgam, Beerwah, Khag, Charar I Sharief , Khansahib, Gurez , Bandipora, Sumbal, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Shalimar, Eid Gah, Safakadal, Ganderbal , Lar , Kangan, Shopian , Pulwama , Pampore, Raj Pora, Mattan , Achabal , Pahalgam.
" It is easy for a public authority to supply information in an excel format rather than sending the same on various pages. I sought information on an excel sheet just to ensure GPO officials don't face any difficulty while compiling the data. I am shocked to know that a senior officer of Postal Service is saying excel format does not fall under section 2 (F). Section 2 (F) has nothing to do with excel format, this section clearly says that Information means any material in any form, including records, documents, memos etc, I wanted record of Postal orders supplied to aforementioned post offices , how can this information be denied to me . If Postal Department officials don't know what Excel format is , they could have send me information in simple word format , how can they deny the information which is of public importance" said Dr Bhat while talking to Early Times.
Information seeker had also sought reasons as to why Department of Posts was not keeping adequate Indian Postal Orders of Rs10 denomination available in different post offices as these IPOs have a great demand in view of being used to pay fees under Right to Information Act (RTI). |
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