news details |
|
|
| Seeks 20,000/- from information seeker for compiling simple information | | BOPEE shames RTI Act | | Abodh Sharma
Jammu, Sept 22: Adding another edifice to the shame and disgrace it has manufactured for itself in the last few months through its unprofessional working, the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) has shamed the very essence of the Right To Information Act, by asking an information seeker to deposit a whopping twenty thousand rupees for providing an information which should be available on the click of a button.
In response to an RTI query filed by One Dalbir Singh on July 26, 2013, seeking to know the details of female candidates selected for the MBBS course in the last five years under RBA category along with their parentage and residential addresses; the PIO of the BOPEE while has written to the information seeker vide his letter No. BOPEE/154(II)/2019-21 dated September 2, 2013 asking him to deposit Rs. 20,000/- and then wait for at least 45 days from the date he deposited the amount in the BOPEE account for getting the information he had sought.
"Please deposit Rs. 20000/- in the shape of Bank draft,favouring FA/CAO, J&K BOPEE as charges for engagement of 2 well qualified persons for segregation and location of requisite documents" the contents of the PIO's letter read.
The officer has further clarified that the information cannot be provided within 30 days as provided in the Act and furthermore, has argued that the complete information sought by the seeker shall still not be provided.
The reply, which in itself is in violation of the norms of the Act has shocked the information seeker as he maintains that the information sought by him was limited and innocuous and did in no way require engagement of 'well qualified persons' for its location and compilation. "BOPEE Selects some 150 students for the MBBS course every year, out of which those selected under RBA category can be counted on fingers- out of them also, I had sought names and parentage of female candidates only, which in five years would not exceed 50 names in all" said Dalbir. "Argument of the PIO that in order to compile names and parentage of fifty candidates, the Board shall have to hire two well qualified persons reflects on the poor working and record keeping of the Board and also infers that he BOPEE does not have 'well qualified people' on its existing staff" he added.
The information seeker maintains that the BOPEE has in the past resorted to similar disgracing of the RTI Act by denying information to the seekers by offering unreasonable arguments in a bid to sweep its wrong doing under its carpet. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
