| BMO Kalakote unaware about RTI Act? | | Asks information seeker to deposit Rs 1500 for 279 pages, furnishes incomplete reply | | Early Times Report
Kalakote, Oct 2: Block Medical Officer (BMO) Kalakote seems to be unaware of what RTI Act says, as he has charged Rs 1500 for incomplete RTI reply from the information seeker, moreover the public information officer took around 7 weeks to provide the details.
As per the RTI Act, the information seeker has to pay two rupees xerox charges, and POI has to furnish reply within 30 days, but in this case the public authority not only allegedly looted the information seeker but made every possible attempt to discourage him by delaying the process. The information seeker had to pay Rs 1500 for 279 pages.
“On 7th August, I filed a RTI application in the office of BMO Kalakote seeking certified copies of information pertains to him. The PIO a month latter telephonically asked me to deposit Rs 1500 as Xerox charges, as asked, I deposited the amount in the treasury on 10th of September,” said Sahil, the information seeker, adding that during COVID pandemic most of sub-centres in Kalakote block remained closed as most of the staff was attached with the BMO office Kalakote.
“ Sub Centre at Doonga Panglar Sub-Centre in remote area of Kalakote, remained closed for six months as the staff remained attached with BMO office, during this period not a single vaccination in the area was done, residents were forced to trek at least 10 kilometer to reach another sub-centre,” the information seeker, quoted locals as having said.
“I came to know about negligent approach of BMO Kalakote from the staff attached in his offices. The BMO’s decision had left over a dozen health centres closed and the inhabitants were left to fend on their own,” the information seeker said, adding that after paying the Xerox charges I kept on asking for reply and finally on 30th September, the reply was furnished but it turned out to be incomplete information. “The details were hidden to save the skin of some tainted staff members,” the information seeker alleged.
“I demand an independent probe into the matter as the incomplete reply given by the PIO indicates irregularities in recruitment for various posts and guidelines were also overlooked,” he claimed. |
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