By SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL
It refers to news-reports about Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) allegedly declining information relating to absconding former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. But a close scrutiny of news-report reveals that MEA handled RTI petition in a proper manner. Queries with ‘why’ and demanding reasoning do not directly come under purview of RTI Act and are as such rightly declined by MEA. Same queries if would have been properly drafted seeking file-notings on aspects involved in the queries, perhaps would have provided desired information.
MEA has instead acted in accordance with RTI Act by transferring other queries to concerned ones under section 6(3) of RTI Act within five days of receipt of RTI petition. Otherwise most public authorities do so on 30th day which is not proper.
Media-groups, universities, colleges should organise RTI workshops for educating users drafting RTI petitions and appeals in proper manner to get desired response.
