Haryana dept supplies RTI applicant with 40,000 pages, he says ‘not enough'
Arora had approached the Haryana State Information Commission, alleging delays and incomplete disclosures under the RTI Act, despite having deposited a fee of Rs 80,000 with the Public Health and Engineering Department in Kurukshetra in February and March this year.
Following his request, the department provided him the a massive trove of documents — approximately 40,000 pages — on June 5 this year.
The RTI application, filed on January 30, was submitted to the Executive Engineer of the department along with the prescribed postal order fee. Arora had sought records on 15 specific points, including: details of tenders floated between January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2025, licenses issued to contractors, staffing details across permanent, contractual, and outsourced categories, revenue earned, project-wise expenditures at various levels, and GST submissions by contractors.
According to official records, the State Public Information Officer-cum-Executive Engineer issued a letter on February 3 demanding a documentation fee of Rs 80,000, calculated at Rs 2 per copy for 40,000 pages. On the same day, the Executive Engineer sent a separate letter to departmental juniors instructing them to process the RTI request within the stipulated time. 'Please note the consequences on account of any delay on your side, you will be personally responsible for the same,' the letter stated.
Arora recounted, 'When I did not receive the information despite depositing a fee of Rs 80,000 with the department in February and March, I had to appeal to the Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Engineer-in-Chief, and other senior officials, alleging the officers were deliberately withholding information. Only after intervention from the high-ups, the department sent the documents—roughly 40,000 pages weighing one quintal and 8.2 kilograms — in June this year.'
Arora claims that the reply was not only incomplete, but included voluminous irrelevant material, with 'core queries being completely avoided.'
Responding to the allegations, Executive Engineer Sumit Garg told The Indian Express that the department had provided all the information as per the RTI Act and at the earliest possible time. 'The applicant has deposited a demand draft of Rs 10,000 issued in the name of a book depot, while the bank cheque deposited by him belongs to a school. We have requested the applicant to confirm whether both belong to him,' Garg said. Arora confirmed that both the book depot and school in question are under his ownership.
Asked about his motive for seeking such voluminous information, Arora explained, 'I had received inputs that norms were being flouted in the execution of development works, and nepotism was being practiced in the recruitment for junior-level contractual posts.'
Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Mostly unkempt, pink toilets in city remain inaccessible for women
1 2 3 4 5 6 Lucknow: Despite the govt's initiative to establish Pink Toilets exclusively for women, the ground reality in the city's major markets paints a disappointing picture. A reality check by TOI across four key commercial areas—Alambagh, Aminabad, Hazratganj, and Bhoothnath—revealed that many of these facilities are either non-functional, locked, or completely missing, worsening sanitation challenges for women. In Alambagh, the Pink Toilet was found either locked or lacking basic amenities like water and cleanliness. Several women reported being asked to pay Rs 10 per use, despite no female attendant being present. As a result, many prefer using the Sulabh Shauchalaya, which charges Rs 2, or nearby hospital toilets. Rashmika (35), who was pregnant at the time, said, "I urgently needed a washroom, but a man was collecting money outside. There was no female staff and the place was filthy. I've avoided Pink Toilets ever since." Farana (32), a bangle seller, said she uses the toilets at Chander Nagar Hospital due to the poor condition of the Pink Toilet. Another local vendor, Mausami (32), added, "The Pink Toilet is rarely open, and when it is, they charge more than Sulabh." Hema Ahuja, a shop owner, said her last visit six months ago revealed the facility had no water. In Aminabad, the Pink Toilet reportedly remained shut since its construction two years ago. "I've never seen it open," said Akash (30), a salesperson at a nearby Bata store. Many, like garment seller Sarojini Kashyap (63), were unaware of its existence altogether and continue to use Sulabh Shauchalaya. Puja (31), a dry fruit vendor, said the stench from the Sulabh facility drives away her customers. "Women have no choice but to use it since the Pink Toilet is always locked. I've even complained to officials," she added. In Hazratganj, the city's most central and high-footfall market, there is no Pink Toilet at all. Ranjana (29), a constable at the Pink Booth, said women are allowed to use the booth's toilet only in emergencies. Bhoothnath faces a similar situation. The market has no Pink Toilet, and vendors like flower seller Geeta (37) have stressed the urgent need for a women-only sanitation facility. Additional municipal commissioner Lalit Kumar said, "In the tender document, it was envisaged that the Pink Toilet would operate with the support of an attached shop and advertisements on its wall, at no additional cost to the LMC. However, we found few takers. That's why you are facing difficulties in running them. We are sending a letter to the ADG 1090 to request additional funds to operate them as originally targeted. "
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
294 newborns in Pilibhit gifted teak saplings for future financial security
Pilibhit: The Forest and Wildlife Division of Pilibhit, in collaboration with the District Health Department, gifted teak saplings to 294 newborns during the ongoing Van Mahotsav, an annual afforestation campaign held in the first week of July. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Each sapling was handed over to the newborn's mother along with a 'Green Gold Certificate' under a flagship scheme of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath aimed at ensuring the child's future financial security. As per the scheme, each child will have legal ownership of the tree and will be entitled to fell it upon maturity — about 20 years later — to fund key expenses such as higher education, said Divisional forest officer (DFO) Bharat Kumar DK on Monday. "The child will be able to use the timber value to support essential future needs," he said. Terming it the first such initiative in Pilibhit, chief medical officer Dr Alok Kumar said the scheme covered deliveries at govt facilities across the district, including the district women's hospital, 10 community health centres, and most of the 31 primary health centres staffed with nurses. The scheme ran from July 1 to the midnight of July 6. "The Green Gold Certificate scheme is also expected to promote institutional births in government hospitals," Dr Kumar said. "It provides families a certified assurance of future financial support, in addition to the financial aid already given to mothers at the time of delivery." "A fully grown teak tree is currently worth between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh, and this value is likely to rise significantly over the next two decades," said the DFO. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He added that "the responsibility of planting and nurturing the saplings lies with the families, who must do so on their private property at their own cost." He said that of the state's 37-crore plantation target, Pilibhit has been assigned 39.5 lakh saplings across 50 species — ranging from timber and medicinal plants to ornamental and fruit-bearing trees. The plantation drive, which involves 26 state departments, will continue till July 9.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
JSR medical college's new building reports seepages
Jamshedpur: The newly built building of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH) has developed leaks and seepage even before the medical services are yet to become fully operational at the facility. The G+7 structure, which was built at a cost of Rs 386 crore, suffered water seepage on its walls and chambers at the outpatient department (OPD) complex since the onset of monsoon last month. Puddles have also developed in many places across ENT, orthopaedic, eye and medicine chambers, hospital staff and patients have claimed. On Friday, the false ceiling at the psychiatric OPD room collapsed. None was hurt. Built by Larsen & Toubro, the building has provisions for 751 beds. Water seepage in an operation theatre forced surgeons to call off a scheduled surgery last week. "After one surgery at the ENT OT was shelved on Friday, another surgery at the orthopaedic OT was called off on July 5," MGMMCH principal Dr Diwakar Hansda,said. "We have asked the heads of departments (HoDs) to conduct a physical survey of their respective chambers and the OTs and submit a report. We will send the report to the senior authorities in the department for appropriate action," Dr Hansda said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo "The contractor claimed that leakages surfaced in the building after installation of the centralised air-conditioning facility. This is not a satisfactory answer. Monsoon rains will continue for three months. Hence, the contractor was asked to fix the leaks and seepages at the earliest. We will not take complete possession of the building before the defects are fixed," Dr Hansda added. L&T bagged the contract for the project from the state building construction department in 2019. Chief minister Hemant Soren inaugurated the building ahead of the state assembly election last year. Health minister Irfan Ansari directed the MGMMCH management to relocate from its existing facility in Sakchi to the new premises in Dimna after a balcony of the Sakchi premises collapsed and killed four people on May 3. The MGMMCH had set a deadline of shifting to the new building completely by July 15. "Almost all the departments have been shifted. The process of shifting the emergency ward, medicine ward, dressing room to the new building is on. We hope to meet the deadline," Hansda said.
