*Asks applicant to clear ‘outstanding’ dues
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, July 1: In a brazen violation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Kashmir University authorities have asked an applicant to clear his outstanding dues before seeking any information from them.
An applicant, Muzaffar Ahmad from the Department of Law, by virtue of an RTI application had sought details of sources of funds and the expenditure that has been made in Boys Hostel of the University. Instead of giving him the details, he was asked to clear the outstanding amount of hostel mess.
In the reply to the PIO, University of Kashmir, the warden has stated that it is not liable to provide the details that are sought by the resident boarder.
“It is submitted that the undersigned is not liable to provide the details…as the University is having well established audit section which takes stock of all the account heads of the hostel,” the reply from the warden reads, the copy of which is lying with Excelsior
Further, the warden did not stop there; rather it resorted to personal attack and asked the applicant to clear his outstanding dues at the hostel mess. It also directed the applicant to approach the budget section “instead of wasting our precious time which otherwise could be used for the developmental work.”
“Moreover, the undersigned also advise the applicant to deposit the mess outstanding dues of Rs 7772 which is fundamental right of the boarder. The sad boarder having outstanding has no right to take meals in the hostel,” the reply added.
State Information Commissioner (SIC), Mohammad Ashraf Mir said that the reply from the concerned is no way justified and that they should not have made any mention of the outstanding dues.
“It is wrong disposal of the application, if there were any dues that were outstanding, they could have recovered that separately, there was no need to mention that in the application, you just had to give the information,” Mir told Excelsior. “We will give them a dressing down if the RTI applicant brings the case to us,” he added.
Dr Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Chairman J&K RTI Movement said that the Kashmir University has got a habit of “harassing” and “intimidating” RTI applicants, particularly students whenever the information is sought from them.
“They have this habit; it is a clear case of denial of information. It is the right of every civilian to seek information. Information is to be provided in reply to the request and nothing else,” he said.
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