8. WHO IS NOT COVERED ?
IB & RAW
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
Central Economic Intelligence
Bureau Directorate of Enforcement
Narcotics Control Bureau
Aviation Research Centre
Special Frontier Force
CRPF, ITBP, CISF, NSG Special Service Bureau
Assam Rifles
14. CASE STUDY -I
STUDENTS HAVE RIGHT TO EXAMINE ANSWER SHEETS CBSE (Dt. 9/08/2011)
The Supreme Court said examinees have a right to inspect answer-sheets
under the transparency law. The evaluated answer-sheets are covered under
the definition of the “information” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, a
Bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik said. It upheld the
judgment of the Calcutta High Court which had said “rejection for inspection
of answer-sheets cannot be sustained”. The apex court dismissed the appeals
of CBSE, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, West Bengal Council for
Higher Education, University of Calcutta, Institute of Chartered Accountants
of India and West Bengal Central School Service Commission which had
challenged the February 5, 2009 judgment. The apex court agreed with the
findings of the High Court that the examination conducting bodies do not
retain the evaluated answersheets under any “fiduciary capacity”.
15. CASE STUDY -II
Student employ RTI to bring changes :(Dt. 29/05/2011)
RTI application filed by school children in UP government’s health department
demanding information why tobacco retaill shops are allowed to operate
within the 100 yards of educational institution of ban, who is responsible to
enforce tobacco law in Lucknow, what action should be taken against the
official for not taking any action, - A student filed RTI applications with the
Lucknow Municipal Corporation demanding information on why garbage is
dumped in public places, who is responsible to remove it, what action will be
taken, and when garbage will be removed. - These students were part of the
recently held summer training camp in which they were taught by Magsaysay
award winner social activist Sandeep Pandey and social activist Bobby
Ramakant as how to draft an RTI application and use it as a tool to curb
corruption and make state government agencies do their job.
Most of the children who have filed applications are students of Class 9 to 12
AISHWARYA 9 YEARS OLD FILED RTI IN NOV.2009
16. CASE STUDY -III
Rs 2,490 Crore tax-exemption given to political parties in 5 years
(Obtained through RTI Application)
Congress – Rs. 1385.36 Crore
BJP – Rs. 682 Crore
NCP – Rs. 141.34 Crore
BSP – Rs. 147.18 Crore
RJD – Rs. 2.85 Crore
The information came through a petition filed by Hisar based RTI activist
Ramesh Verma before the Income Tax department. Political parties are
exempted from tax on their income through Section 13 A of IT Act 1961. They
have to, however, maintain a book of account for donations or income above
Rs 20,000
18. CONCLUSION
RTI has definitely helped in better governance
Even though it has been 7 yrs, but still the act has not
been used to its full power because of many reasons like
less awareness, threats, political power and corruption.
There are no amendments in the law since the time it has
been passed even though there is a need to change.
20. SOME IMPORTANT WEBSITES
www.rti.gov.in (Govt. of India’s most imp website on RTI)
www.cic.gov.in (Central Information Commissioner, New Delhi
www.rti.india.gov.in
www.rti.org.in
www.gic.guj.nic.in (Gujarat Information Commissioner)
www.sic.maharashtra.gov.in (Maharashtra Information
Commissioner)
www.ric.rajasthan.gov.in (Rajasthan Information Commissioner)
www.rtiawards.org
Note :- Please visit website of other State Information Commissioner for more information.
