BY FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA
THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER
PASSING THE PARCEL
IGR & CS HAS NO INFORMATION. DOESN’T WANT TO WORK FOR IT
TBMR had filed an RTI with IGR & CS department asking for some useful information about the Stamp papers which were issued by the State Bank of Mysore. While the PIO at IGR & CS did not reply to the RTI, the same was filed with the Appellate authority to provide the information. The Appellate authority called the applicant on 08th March 2011 and our Editor appeared for the same. However, what happened then was really shocking.
The IGR & CS himself being the head of the department was the Appellate authority himself. It was Mr. S. N. Jayaram, a 1994 batch IAS Officer who also was the Ex-MD of the Karnataka State Co-Op Apex Bank Ltd.
When the Editor, an RTI applicant approached, the appellate Mr. Jayaram advised him to file an RTI with the SBM whose information is required rather then asking the same from IGR & CS. This is extremely condemnable. How can a responsible person like the appellate authority and IGR & CS don’t know the RTI rules? It is the duty of the appellate to provide the information sought to any RTI applicant. Besides, Mr. Jayaram also asked him a copy of the SBM Appellate authority reply against his RTI appeal filed with them earlier. Frankly, it is not his business.
The IGR & CS department is paying more than one lakh rupees as rent from the tax payers money for the building and it is the duty of the officers to monitor the activities pertaining to the Revenue department. In this case, they must monitor and maintain records of all Stamp papers transactions done by the Bank etc.
However it is not done so. None of the required documents are neither obtained by the IGR & CS department till date & are not even collecting or demanding from the bank. In spite of RTI being filed regarding the same, the IGR & CS is least bothered to collect the information from the Bank and provide the same. On the Contrary, the IGR & CS who is also the Appellate authority, asked the applicant to seek the information from the Bank directly.
Besides, the Appellate asking for the copy of the reply by the SBM appellate is also highly condemnable. It may be for the intention to just copy paste the information as given by the SBM appellate and issue a reply to the applicant there by misguiding him.
When an appeal was filed with the Appellate, the authority called him to office. But, then, how could you call an applicant to your office only to tell him that he has to file an RTI with the respective Bank in stead to seek the information required? Does not this clearly show the world how an important department like IGR & CS is functioning?
It is reminded that it is the duty of the IGR & CS and the whole department to get the relevant information from the related source and provide to applicants whosoever he may be. On the contrary, the information primarily should be available with you in first place, rather than seeking it from the related source later on.
Your act of suggesting Banks name for the information and also asking for the copy of SBM appellate is highly condemnable Mr. IGR & CS.
The Editor has however filed an appeal with the KIC regarding the information. And by the way, Mr. Jayaram, the IGR & CS got transferred from his post on 11th March and the new IGR & CS Mr. Shivappa (IAS) has taken up the charge.
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