Latest news with #RTI)Act
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
RTI Act applicable to Century Club as it is a ‘public authority': Karnataka High Court
The High Court of Karnataka has ruled that 7.5 acres of land given by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1913 to Century Club, situated on the land abutting Cubbon Park in Bengaluru, amounts to 'a substantial contribution of financing by the State' to bring the club under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Patron-in-chief The club was started by then Maharaja of Mysore Narasimha Raja Wadiyar, who was its patron-in-chief, and Sir M. Visvesvaraya. '... if the valuation of the land of 7.5 acres as of today is taken into consideration, the same would run into hundreds of crores if not thousands, and the contribution made by the members of the club, as membership fees or any other head of account, pales into insignificance. In that view of the matter, it is clearly and categorically established that there is a substantial contribution made by the State, i.e. the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore, through the Maharaja of Mysore', the court said. Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while dismissing a petition filed by the club, which had questioned the 2018 order passed by the State Information Commission (SIC). Land given by govt. The SIC had said that the club has to be treated as a 'public authority' under the RTI Act as it has benefited from the land given by the State government in 1913 while directing the club to provide information under the RTI Act to the public. The court said that the club had not made any payment to the then Maharaja of Mysore or the Kingdom of Mysore for the land and no specific document has been placed on record to indicate that the said land belonged personally to the Maharaja of Mysore. Not personal property 'The grant made in the name of the Maharaja of Mysore would also indicate that it is not the personal property of the Maharaja,' the court noted. On the club's contention that day-to-day activities, expenses, maintenance etc., are carried out from the contribution of the members, the court said that the fact still remains that without the land, the activities of the club could not be run.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Two Walk Free from Nagpur Jail, Four from Amravati After Acquittal in 2006 Mumbai Train Bombings
Nagpur/Amravati: Two of the three prisoners convicted in the 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings were released from Nagpur Central Jail on Monday evening following their acquittal by the Bombay High Court earlier in the day. Another four convicted in the same case were simultaneously released from Amravati central prison. The men — Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui and Mohammad Ali Alam Sher Sheikh — spent more than 17 years behind bars. A third inmate, Naved Hussain Rashid Hussain Khan, remains in custody in connection with a separate case, jail superintendent Vaibhav Agey confirmed to TOI. The four released from a jail in Amravati, 155km off Nagpur, include Mohammad Majid Mohammad Shafi (51), Jamir Ahmad Latifur Rehman Sheikh (55), Tanveer Ahmad Mohammad Ibrahim Ansari (56) and Sohail Mehmood Sheikh (52). The High Court's acquittal of all 12 accused brought a dramatic end to one of the most closely watched terrorism trials in the country, stemming from the July 11, 2006, bombings on Mumbai's suburban train network. The attacks killed over 180 people and injured more than 800. The case drew criticism over the alleged custodial torture and lack of forensic evidence against the accused. Siddiqui and Khan were sentenced to death, while Sheikh was serving a life term. Another key accused, Kamal Ansari — listed as Accused No. 1 — died in April 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, while still in Nagpur jail. The released prisoners were arrested in 2006, shortly after the blasts, and remained incarcerated till Monday's judgment. Following the verdict pronounced in Mumbai by Justice Anil Kilor, the new administrative judge of Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, Siddiqui and Sheikh were released quietly through a side gate, avoiding the waiting media. They were then flown to Mumbai on an Indigo flight from Nagpur airport. Jail authorities confirmed that under updated Supreme Court guidelines, an accused can now be released on the basis of a digitally signed judgment, eliminating the need to wait for a hard copy. "We only need approval from the High Court's local office. Warrants from the sessions court are required only in bail cases," a jail official clarified. During their incarceration, Siddiqui enrolled in a law degree course through Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University and is now in the final semester of his LLB. Khan started a BA course but did not complete it. All three actively used the Right to Information (RTI) Act to file applications challenging prison rules, legal procedures, and lack of academic access. The high court noted in its ruling that all four accused alleged custodial torture at the hands of Mumbai ATS and later retracted their confessions in court. Each of the acquitted individuals was directed to execute a personal bond of ₹25,000 under Section 481 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, for future court appearances in the event of an appeal by the state in the Supreme Court.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
RTI Act a weapon for Adivasi women
Vijayawada: RTI Commissioner Rehana Begum urged Adivasi women to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act as a powerful weapon. She emphasised that awareness of the RTI Act can help tribal communities access information about government schemes, services, and entitlements specifically meant for them. Speaking at a virtual awareness programme, she noted that women in tribal regions often face challenges due to illiteracy and lack of awareness and access to information. However, by identifying and training active and enthusiastic tribal women, it is possible to cultivate a culture of questioning and creating awareness. She explained that once equipped with knowledge of the RTI Act, these women could play a key role in solving local issues by helping others access critical information.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
RTI Act a tool for empowerment, Adivasi women told
Vijayawada: State Information (RTI) commissioner Rehana Begum has urged Adivasi women to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act as a powerful tool for empowerment. She emphasised that awareness of the RTI Act can help tribal communities access crucial information about government schemes, services, and entitlements specifically meant for them. Rehana interacted with tribal women from Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR), Manyam, and Prakasam districts during a virtual awareness programme on Friday. She noted that women in tribal regions often face challenges due to illiteracy and lack of access to information. However, she said that a culture of awareness and questioning can be fostered by identifying and training active and enthusiastic tribal women. Once equipped with knowledge of the RTI Act, these women can play a key role in resolving local issues by helping others obtain critical information. "State and central governments are spending huge amounts for the welfare and development of tribal populations across the country. It is your right to know how much money is coming to your village and your people. Take advantage of the RTI Act to get the details of the schemes and programmes," said Rehana Begum. She explained that awareness about the schemes would also help hold officials accountable and ensure proper implementation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo A lack of awareness, especially among tribal women, often leads to misappropriation or diversion of funds, she added. The five-day awareness programme, held in Anakapalli district from July 14 (Monday) to July 18 (Friday), was jointly organised by LibTech India and the United Forum for RTI Campaign–Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with various voluntary organisations. Tribal women from Manyam, Alluri Sitarama Raju, and Prakasam districts participated in the event. Rehana Begum highlighted how such initiatives can have a lasting impact on women in remote tribal regions by deepening their understanding of rights and entitlements. She also noted that awareness campaigns by voluntary organisations complement the government's goal of empowering citizens through transparency. Representatives from LibTech India, including BDS Kishore, and members of the United Forum for RTI Campaign also participated in the event.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Punjab chief info commissioner slams Jalandhar municipal body for lapses
Chandigarh: Citing administrative negligence, the Punjab chief information commissioner has criticised the Jalandhar municipal corporation (MC) for failure to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in a timely and transparent manner. The commissioner warned that continued non-compliance could lead to disciplinary action against senior officials. The observations were made by chief information commissioner Inderpal Singh during the hearing of an appeal filed by a resident of Hoshiarpur, who sought information from the MC on March 21. On getting no response, the appellant approached the commission on May 27. In the first hearing on June 19, the complainant sought stringent action against the respondent for failing to comply with the RTI Act. No one appeared on behalf of the MC in that particular hearing. However, Rakesh Kumar, officer on special duty (OSD) to the Jalandhar MC commissioner, was present in an unrelated matter and was asked to confirm the names of officials responsible for handling the RTI request. He said Suresh Kumar Sharma was serving as additional commissioner and Rajesh Khokhar as assistant commissioner. The commission, taking note of the absence of the officers, warned that if they failed to appear on the next date, their presence would be secured through bailable warrants, and disciplinary action could also be recommended to the competent authority. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Freehold Apartments in Dubai Starting from AED 675K Binghatti Developers FZE Explore Undo In the last hearing, Khokhar appeared and submitted an affidavit stating that the RTI application did not relate to his department. He clarified no officer named Suresh Kumar Sharma was holding the post of additional commissioner at the relevant time and identified Rakesh Kumar, who was transferred on June 30, as the officer in charge when the RTI application was filed. The commission then expressed dissatisfaction with Jalandhar Smart City Limited's reply. The response, sent via email, was unsigned and lacked identification of the public information officer (PIO) responsible. Although it claimed that information for Points 1 and 2 was available online, the commission found the links inactive or inaccessible. This, it observed, amounted to a violation of Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, which mandated that if information sought pertained to another public authority, the original PIO must transfer the application to the body concerned. The commission criticised the unprepared appearance of Khokhar, noting that he neither provided a satisfactory response nor consulted his colleagues before attending the hearing. The commission called it a wasteful burden on the exchequer that such a senior officer was deputed without being properly briefed. The chief information commissioner then directed the MC commissioner to identify all officers, PIOs, and APIOs responsible for each point raised in the application. They were instructed to submit the complete record of the RTI request along with related correspondence and to furnish details of all RTI applications received in the last six months. The commission also ordered that all officials concerned, including Khokhar, must be present at the next hearing scheduled for Aug 6. In addition, the PIO of Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company has been impleaded as a necessary party in the case.
