Activists worried as officials defy RTI panel orders [Chennai]
| Times of India, The, Aug 16, 2010 | by Jeeva
CHENNAI: P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
RTI petitioner faces the heat from goons March 23rd, 2009 By Our Correspondent
RTI petitioner faces the heat from goons
March 23rd, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Chennai/Vellore, March 22: A RTI petition to seek information about distribution of financial assistance under various welfare schemes like old and widow pensions to the beneficiaries in Vellore taluk limit has invited goons for the help of revenue officials to hush up the petitioner.
Having come to know about malpractices in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, an RTI activist and resident of Chennai, V. Gopalakrishnan, petitioned the public information officer (PIO) of Vellore tahsildar office seeking details about the list of beneficiaries of the welfare schemes. The petition was filed on February 11 this year.
The petitioner urged that he be furnished a photocopy of the application, enquiry records, reports of village administration officer (VAO) and revenue inspector (RI), office note and sanction order in respect of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes from October 2008 to January 2009. This includes pensions to physical handicapped, OAPs and widows.
When he sent the reply to Gopalakrishnan asking him to remit Rs 21,608 to get the details, tashildar S. Thangavelu may have violated the RTIO Act as he was not the PIO or authenticating official to reply to the RTI petition. Following the letter on March 12, two persons claiming to be real estate dealers allegedly came to the petitioner’s house and working place in Chennai.
They informed Gopalakrishnan that they were sent by Vaniyambadi tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar, who was then SSS tashildar in Vellore during the period for which the petitioner sought the information.
They threatened him of dire consequence, if he did not withdraw the RTI petition.
“The two had also been to my house when I was not there. Telling me that Sharmila Jayakumar has sent them, the two said we could arrive at an amicable solution. I have video proof of the threat,” said the petitioner, adding that he immediately mailed the chief minister’s cell, chief information commissioner of Tamil Nadu information commission and district collector on the incident seeking protection for him and his family.
Meantime, an application was filed under RTI Act by his cousin Laxmanan urging the district administration to furnish the details about the properties of Tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar on February 9. But no reply has been provided till date, he said. District collector C. Rajendran said, “I will enquire into the matter and take appropriate action against errant officials.”
March 23rd, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Chennai/Vellore, March 22: A RTI petition to seek information about distribution of financial assistance under various welfare schemes like old and widow pensions to the beneficiaries in Vellore taluk limit has invited goons for the help of revenue officials to hush up the petitioner.
Having come to know about malpractices in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, an RTI activist and resident of Chennai, V. Gopalakrishnan, petitioned the public information officer (PIO) of Vellore tahsildar office seeking details about the list of beneficiaries of the welfare schemes. The petition was filed on February 11 this year.
The petitioner urged that he be furnished a photocopy of the application, enquiry records, reports of village administration officer (VAO) and revenue inspector (RI), office note and sanction order in respect of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes from October 2008 to January 2009. This includes pensions to physical handicapped, OAPs and widows.
When he sent the reply to Gopalakrishnan asking him to remit Rs 21,608 to get the details, tashildar S. Thangavelu may have violated the RTIO Act as he was not the PIO or authenticating official to reply to the RTI petition. Following the letter on March 12, two persons claiming to be real estate dealers allegedly came to the petitioner’s house and working place in Chennai.
They informed Gopalakrishnan that they were sent by Vaniyambadi tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar, who was then SSS tashildar in Vellore during the period for which the petitioner sought the information.
They threatened him of dire consequence, if he did not withdraw the RTI petition.
“The two had also been to my house when I was not there. Telling me that Sharmila Jayakumar has sent them, the two said we could arrive at an amicable solution. I have video proof of the threat,” said the petitioner, adding that he immediately mailed the chief minister’s cell, chief information commissioner of Tamil Nadu information commission and district collector on the incident seeking protection for him and his family.
Meantime, an application was filed under RTI Act by his cousin Laxmanan urging the district administration to furnish the details about the properties of Tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar on February 9. But no reply has been provided till date, he said. District collector C. Rajendran said, “I will enquire into the matter and take appropriate action against errant officials.”
RTI activists use hi-tech gadgets in fight for rights May 3rd, 2009 By Our Correspondent
RTI activists use hi-tech gadgets in fight for rights
May 3rd, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Vellore, May 2: A number of RTI activists have turned tech-savvy by adopting high-end gadgets to exposae malpractices and corruption in the public and private sectors.
Nearly 20 to 30 activists in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts have been using gadgets such as spy cam (pen and button type with 4 GB storage capacity), spy cam (antenna model) annexed in laptops, micro voice recorders, mobile camera and mobile video recorders.
“I have been using pen-type spy camera. I can record continuously for one-and-a-half hours as the tiny device comes with a rechargeable battery with 4 GB storage facility,” said Mr V. Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist, who exposed corruption in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office using the device.
The devices also play the role of self-protection gears for the activists, he said, adding, “When I filed an RTI application seeking information about the list of beneficiaries in welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, two persons had approached and threatened me to withdraw the petition. But I recorded their speech using the pen-type spy camera without their knowledge and took the issue to higher officials and the police department.”
Mr Gopalakrishnan and three of his friends have also been using an antenna-type spy cam and static camera at a visiting room in their respective house or office. Mr Vinod Jain, member of FACT India, said the modern devices have been of great help to get justice. Around 10 co-members of the organisation have been using the devices during sting operations to expose malpractices, misuse of power and corruption in public and private sectors.
Lack of knowledge about the devices among the officials helps us to expose the corruption, he said. Finding the trendy spy cam handy to uncover malpractices and create crucial evidence to bring the truth to light, the activists and members of several NGOs are going for it.
May 3rd, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Vellore, May 2: A number of RTI activists have turned tech-savvy by adopting high-end gadgets to exposae malpractices and corruption in the public and private sectors.
Nearly 20 to 30 activists in Chennai, Tiruvannamalai and Vellore districts have been using gadgets such as spy cam (pen and button type with 4 GB storage capacity), spy cam (antenna model) annexed in laptops, micro voice recorders, mobile camera and mobile video recorders.
“I have been using pen-type spy camera. I can record continuously for one-and-a-half hours as the tiny device comes with a rechargeable battery with 4 GB storage facility,” said Mr V. Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist, who exposed corruption in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office using the device.
The devices also play the role of self-protection gears for the activists, he said, adding, “When I filed an RTI application seeking information about the list of beneficiaries in welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, two persons had approached and threatened me to withdraw the petition. But I recorded their speech using the pen-type spy camera without their knowledge and took the issue to higher officials and the police department.”
Mr Gopalakrishnan and three of his friends have also been using an antenna-type spy cam and static camera at a visiting room in their respective house or office. Mr Vinod Jain, member of FACT India, said the modern devices have been of great help to get justice. Around 10 co-members of the organisation have been using the devices during sting operations to expose malpractices, misuse of power and corruption in public and private sectors.
Lack of knowledge about the devices among the officials helps us to expose the corruption, he said. Finding the trendy spy cam handy to uncover malpractices and create crucial evidence to bring the truth to light, the activists and members of several NGOs are going for it.
Tainted engineer may head TNEB firm August 4th, 2010 DC Correspondent
Tainted engineer may head TNEB firm
August 4th, 2010
DC Correspondent
Aug. 3: An engineer indicted in connection with the theft of underground cables worth Rs 94.37 lakh is being considered for the post of managing director of the Tamil Nadu electricity board’s proposed generation and distribution company.
Copies of documents available with Deccan Chronicle show that the executive engineer was among the 20 staff members against whom the TNEB chairman ordered action on September 2, 2007, for theft of 42,469 metres of underground cable during 2005-06. The theft came to light when the chairman’s flying squad inspected the records of cable stores at Kadaperi, Tambaram.
As per the records, low tension cables measuring 42,469 metres were issued to seven operation and management sections of Chennai electricity division circle (CEDC), South, from August 2005 to December 2006 without approval from the authorities.
This was documented in the investigation report submitted by chief internal audit officer, C. Chandramohan, a copy of which is available with DC.
While 14 section engineers were indicted of being indirectly responsible for the malpractice, P. Murugan, then a store supervisor, was accused of “committing malpractice” deliberately. However, Mr Murugan retired from service on May 31, 2007, without serving any punishment.
In reply to the RTI petition filed by V. Gopalakrishnan of the federation of anti-corruption teams, the TNEB said that only charges had been framed against officials and disciplinary proceedings had not been taken as yet.
Departmental action was recommended against them including recovering the cost of the cables.
August 4th, 2010
DC Correspondent
Aug. 3: An engineer indicted in connection with the theft of underground cables worth Rs 94.37 lakh is being considered for the post of managing director of the Tamil Nadu electricity board’s proposed generation and distribution company.
Copies of documents available with Deccan Chronicle show that the executive engineer was among the 20 staff members against whom the TNEB chairman ordered action on September 2, 2007, for theft of 42,469 metres of underground cable during 2005-06. The theft came to light when the chairman’s flying squad inspected the records of cable stores at Kadaperi, Tambaram.
As per the records, low tension cables measuring 42,469 metres were issued to seven operation and management sections of Chennai electricity division circle (CEDC), South, from August 2005 to December 2006 without approval from the authorities.
This was documented in the investigation report submitted by chief internal audit officer, C. Chandramohan, a copy of which is available with DC.
While 14 section engineers were indicted of being indirectly responsible for the malpractice, P. Murugan, then a store supervisor, was accused of “committing malpractice” deliberately. However, Mr Murugan retired from service on May 31, 2007, without serving any punishment.
In reply to the RTI petition filed by V. Gopalakrishnan of the federation of anti-corruption teams, the TNEB said that only charges had been framed against officials and disciplinary proceedings had not been taken as yet.
Departmental action was recommended against them including recovering the cost of the cables.
RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors Jeeva, TNN, Jul 22, 2010, 05.05am IST Read more: RTI activists in TN face threats from
RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors
Jeeva, TNN, Jul 22, 2010, 05.05am IST
Read more: RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors - Chennai - City - The Times of India
CHENNAI: The Right To Information (RTI) Act may have come as a weapon in the hands of the common man seeking transperancy in governance, but those using the enactment are also increasingly becoming vulnerable as demonstrated by the killing of an RTI activist in Gujarat on Tuesday.
In Tamil Nadu, activists who focus on environmental degradation due to sand mining and the nexus between corrupt government staff, contractors of civil work and local politicians routinely face intimidation. They are often targeted after officials learn about the RTI applications filed seeking details of expenditure on various schemes.
P Balasubramanian, a retired village administrative officer and a social worker in Cuddalore, recently received threats from a builder after he filed an application under the RTI Act a couple of months ago pertaining to certain unauthorised constructions in the district.
"I lodged a police complaint as I was threatened, but the police chose to close the case. But I am not going to leave it that. Now I am going to file an RTI application with the police department to furnish me the copy of the inquiry report,'' Balasubramanian said.
In a similar case in Tiruvannamalai district, R Balakrishnan, a 63-year old retired school headmaster, recently lodged a police complaint against a local politician who along his supporters tresspassed on his (Balakrishnan's) property and threatened him of dire consequences if he continued to file RTI applications.
Acting on his complaint, the police summoned and warned the political functionary and also obtained a written undertaking that he would not commit the offence again. Balakrishnan had filed RTI applications with the civic bodies and government agencies in connection with irregularities in laying of roads and water pipelines and planting of saplings.
"We want to use the RTI Act to eliminate corrupt practices in the government and it obviously puts obstacles in the path of those who indulge in corruption. But I am not scared,'' said the retired headmaster.
M Thuyamurthy, an anti-corruption campaigner at Tondiarpet in Chennai, was similarly threatened by a gang that barged into a fisheries office when he was inspecting the records of the fisheries cooperative societies under the RTI Act pertaining to certain irregularities.
The State Information Commission recently ordered inquiry into the complaint made by V Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist in KK Nagar in Chennai, against two unidentified persons who wanted him to withdraw an application he had filed seeking to know details of assets of a tahsildar in the revenue department.
"It is the need of the hour that the government ensure the safety of RTI activists. There must be a separate department to deal with RTI issues and inquiries on complaints made by applicants should be conducted by an independent body and not by the department to which the RTI application is filed,'' Gopalakrishnan said.
Jeeva, TNN, Jul 22, 2010, 05.05am IST
Read more: RTI activists in TN face threats from sand mafia, contractors - Chennai - City - The Times of India
CHENNAI: The Right To Information (RTI) Act may have come as a weapon in the hands of the common man seeking transperancy in governance, but those using the enactment are also increasingly becoming vulnerable as demonstrated by the killing of an RTI activist in Gujarat on Tuesday.
In Tamil Nadu, activists who focus on environmental degradation due to sand mining and the nexus between corrupt government staff, contractors of civil work and local politicians routinely face intimidation. They are often targeted after officials learn about the RTI applications filed seeking details of expenditure on various schemes.
P Balasubramanian, a retired village administrative officer and a social worker in Cuddalore, recently received threats from a builder after he filed an application under the RTI Act a couple of months ago pertaining to certain unauthorised constructions in the district.
"I lodged a police complaint as I was threatened, but the police chose to close the case. But I am not going to leave it that. Now I am going to file an RTI application with the police department to furnish me the copy of the inquiry report,'' Balasubramanian said.
In a similar case in Tiruvannamalai district, R Balakrishnan, a 63-year old retired school headmaster, recently lodged a police complaint against a local politician who along his supporters tresspassed on his (Balakrishnan's) property and threatened him of dire consequences if he continued to file RTI applications.
Acting on his complaint, the police summoned and warned the political functionary and also obtained a written undertaking that he would not commit the offence again. Balakrishnan had filed RTI applications with the civic bodies and government agencies in connection with irregularities in laying of roads and water pipelines and planting of saplings.
"We want to use the RTI Act to eliminate corrupt practices in the government and it obviously puts obstacles in the path of those who indulge in corruption. But I am not scared,'' said the retired headmaster.
M Thuyamurthy, an anti-corruption campaigner at Tondiarpet in Chennai, was similarly threatened by a gang that barged into a fisheries office when he was inspecting the records of the fisheries cooperative societies under the RTI Act pertaining to certain irregularities.
The State Information Commission recently ordered inquiry into the complaint made by V Gopalakrishnan, an RTI activist in KK Nagar in Chennai, against two unidentified persons who wanted him to withdraw an application he had filed seeking to know details of assets of a tahsildar in the revenue department.
"It is the need of the hour that the government ensure the safety of RTI activists. There must be a separate department to deal with RTI issues and inquiries on complaints made by applicants should be conducted by an independent body and not by the department to which the RTI application is filed,'' Gopalakrishnan said.
Activists worried as officials defy RTI panel orders
CHENNAI: August 16, 2010:
times of india, jeeva
P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
Source: TOI
times of india, jeeva
P Balasubramaniam, a former village administrative officer in Cuddalore, filed an application under the Right To Information (RTI) Act with the Vridhachalam taluk office in September 2009, seeking to know the names and addresses of freedom fighters living in the district and that of persons who had made queries under RTI Act with the taluk office.
The public information officer did not respond. Balasubramaniam filed an appeal with the appellate authority of the taluk office but to no avail. He moved the State Information Commission which, on June 28, directed the taluk office to furnish him the details he had sought for. But the order still remains only on paper as the taluk office has not cared to comply with the information commission's directive.
Balasubramaniam is not alone to draw a blank. V Gopalakrishnan, an activist in KK Nagar, said there were half-a-dozen queries for which he did not receive information from public authorities such as Chennai Corporation and the registration department, in spite of the information commission's directive.
"I asked for a copy of the answersheet of a class IX student in a Chennai Corporation school last year under the RTI Act as there were two students with the same name. One of them had studied well but failed and I wanted to know if there was a mix-up. The corporation has not given me a copy of the answersheet even though the commission gave the directive to Chennai Corporation three months ago," Gopalakrishnan said.
M Thuyamurthy, an activist in Tondiarpet, said: "Many public information officers don't bother to reply to RTI queries till the applicant moves the commission. I filed an appeal against the fisheries department when they did not furnish the information I asked for. I wanted to know about certain irregularities in the fisheries cooperative societies. But even after the commission's directive, the department chose to give only incomplete information. Now I have moved the commission again. I want proper replies to my queries."
"The commission conducts hearings whenever it thinks is necessary. But in several cases where it passes orders without hearings, the public authorities don't take its orders seriously," said V Madhav, an RTI campaiger in Alwarpet.
Many activists said the absence of a proper mechanism to follow up the public authorities' compliance of the information commission's orders embolden concerned departments to easily violate the provisions of the RTI Act.
Moreover, even though the RTI Act says a fine of Rs 250 per day can be imposed against those who fail to reply to RTI queries, subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000, and even though the commission has imposed fine in about 50 cases, almost all of them have moved the high court and obtained stay orders against the payment of fine.
Source: TOI
aruna criticises Jaya for skipping CIC selection meet
Karuna criticises Jaya for skipping CIC selection meet
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
times of india, chennai edition, page no.5
Chennai: Criticising opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner (CIC), chief minister M Karunanidhi said on Tuesday that it had become a habit with her to ignore invitations to attend meetings, including all-party deliberations.
Asked by reporters at the DMK headquarters about her absence, he said when the last CIC was appointed, the then opposition leader, K Anbazhagan, had attended the meeting and accepted the majority view about the appointment made by the then CM Jayalalithaa and finance minister C Ponnaiyan. “Anbazhagan cooperated with the selection process in a dignified manner,” Karunanidhi said.
Meanwhile, official sources said that governor SS Barnala had signed the appointment order, even as RTI activists petitioned him to ensure transparency in the selection process. Jaya not given details of meeting, says AIADMK
Chennai: Chief minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday criticised opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner.
On Monday, the panel, comprising the chief minister and the finance minister, met in Jayalalithaa’s absence and sent a recommendation to the governor. AIADMK sources claimed that Jayalalithaa, a member of the committee as required under the RTI Act, kept away because she was not given in advance details of the candidates under consideration for appointment.
Asked whether she had given any reason for her absence, Karunanidhi did not give a specific reply, but said, in general, she kept away from meetings convened by him, including all-party ones on important issues concerning the state’s interests and on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. “I will invite her, but she won’t come. Sometimes, she will write to me criticising me or my government and say that she is boycotting the meeting,” he said. With the state government tight-lipped over the name of the person recommended for the CIC’s post, a group of RTI activists have petitioned the governor to ensure transparency in the selection process, saying that the government was trying to keep the exercise under wraps.
The RTI Act says that the CIC shall be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. The activists want the government to prescribe rules stipulating advertisements through media calling for applications, prescribing minimum educational qualifications and experience for candidates, for testing the capability and integrity of the applicants, shortlisting the candidates and inviting public objections, if any, before sending the names to the selection committee. With media reports speculating that chief secretary KS Sripathi, retired IAS officer Shanta Sheela Nair or information commissioner TR Ramasamy were the likely candidates, the activists, in their representation to the governor on Tuesday, said they wanted to meet him in person to brief him as to how there had been no effort from the government to initiate a transparent procedure, despite repeated requests.
“It is a great irony that the appointment of the very person who is expected to uphold transparency is happening in such a hush-hush manner,’’ said the representation, signed by V Madhav of the Association for India’s Development on behalf of a team of activists campaigning for transparency. “CIC is like a backbone for the Act as he can ensure transparency in governance. The government should, at least, fulfil obligations under Section 4 of the Act as per which it should publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public,” said V Gopalakrishnan, another campaigner.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
times of india, chennai edition, page no.5
Chennai: Criticising opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner (CIC), chief minister M Karunanidhi said on Tuesday that it had become a habit with her to ignore invitations to attend meetings, including all-party deliberations.
Asked by reporters at the DMK headquarters about her absence, he said when the last CIC was appointed, the then opposition leader, K Anbazhagan, had attended the meeting and accepted the majority view about the appointment made by the then CM Jayalalithaa and finance minister C Ponnaiyan. “Anbazhagan cooperated with the selection process in a dignified manner,” Karunanidhi said.
Meanwhile, official sources said that governor SS Barnala had signed the appointment order, even as RTI activists petitioned him to ensure transparency in the selection process. Jaya not given details of meeting, says AIADMK
Chennai: Chief minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday criticised opposition leader J Jayalalithaa for failing to turn up for a meeting of the selection committee of the state’s chief information commissioner.
On Monday, the panel, comprising the chief minister and the finance minister, met in Jayalalithaa’s absence and sent a recommendation to the governor. AIADMK sources claimed that Jayalalithaa, a member of the committee as required under the RTI Act, kept away because she was not given in advance details of the candidates under consideration for appointment.
Asked whether she had given any reason for her absence, Karunanidhi did not give a specific reply, but said, in general, she kept away from meetings convened by him, including all-party ones on important issues concerning the state’s interests and on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. “I will invite her, but she won’t come. Sometimes, she will write to me criticising me or my government and say that she is boycotting the meeting,” he said. With the state government tight-lipped over the name of the person recommended for the CIC’s post, a group of RTI activists have petitioned the governor to ensure transparency in the selection process, saying that the government was trying to keep the exercise under wraps.
The RTI Act says that the CIC shall be a person of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in law, science and technology, social service, management, journalism, mass media or administration and governance. The activists want the government to prescribe rules stipulating advertisements through media calling for applications, prescribing minimum educational qualifications and experience for candidates, for testing the capability and integrity of the applicants, shortlisting the candidates and inviting public objections, if any, before sending the names to the selection committee. With media reports speculating that chief secretary KS Sripathi, retired IAS officer Shanta Sheela Nair or information commissioner TR Ramasamy were the likely candidates, the activists, in their representation to the governor on Tuesday, said they wanted to meet him in person to brief him as to how there had been no effort from the government to initiate a transparent procedure, despite repeated requests.
“It is a great irony that the appointment of the very person who is expected to uphold transparency is happening in such a hush-hush manner,’’ said the representation, signed by V Madhav of the Association for India’s Development on behalf of a team of activists campaigning for transparency. “CIC is like a backbone for the Act as he can ensure transparency in governance. The government should, at least, fulfil obligations under Section 4 of the Act as per which it should publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public,” said V Gopalakrishnan, another campaigner.
ree goes ‘missing’ from MGR Nagar
Tree goes ‘missing’ from MGR Ngr
A Selvaraj | TNN
times of india, page no.3, chennai edition
Chennai: An assistant executive engineer of the Chennai Corporation on Monday went to the MGR Nagar police station and lodged a complaint about a tree going missing from VM Balakrishnan Salai. The odhyan tree (Indian ash tree), about 25ft tall, was under the care of the city corporation.
“We noticed a six-year-old tree on VM Balakrishnan Salai near Thiru Nagar missing. The tree was chopped off on Sunday. Immediately, we lodged a police complaint.” assistant executive engineer (Zone 9) A Nachan said.
“If anyone wants a tree to be removed from the road citing hindrance to traffic or pedestrians, the matter has to be first discussed with park overseers. If at all the tree has to be removed, it can be done only after getting permission from senior corporation officials. No one is allowed to chop down trees on the road on their own and it is punishable under the law. The police have promised to take severe action against those who have cut the tree,” the engineer said.
Police sources said the people who had cut the tree could have used a power hacksaw. While some of the smaller branches were found on the roadside, the main trunk was missing from the spot.
Based on the complaint of the engineer, the MGR Nagar police registered a case and are investigating. “We suspect a resident, who had been asking corporation staff to remove the tree from the road. A few days ago, when Electricity Board workers dug up the road, it became a hindrance for the resident to use the road. We have summoned some of the residents for an inquiry,” a senior police officer said.
ROOTED OUT: The corporation has filed a police complaint about the tree that was chopped without permission
A Selvaraj | TNN
times of india, page no.3, chennai edition
Chennai: An assistant executive engineer of the Chennai Corporation on Monday went to the MGR Nagar police station and lodged a complaint about a tree going missing from VM Balakrishnan Salai. The odhyan tree (Indian ash tree), about 25ft tall, was under the care of the city corporation.
“We noticed a six-year-old tree on VM Balakrishnan Salai near Thiru Nagar missing. The tree was chopped off on Sunday. Immediately, we lodged a police complaint.” assistant executive engineer (Zone 9) A Nachan said.
“If anyone wants a tree to be removed from the road citing hindrance to traffic or pedestrians, the matter has to be first discussed with park overseers. If at all the tree has to be removed, it can be done only after getting permission from senior corporation officials. No one is allowed to chop down trees on the road on their own and it is punishable under the law. The police have promised to take severe action against those who have cut the tree,” the engineer said.
Police sources said the people who had cut the tree could have used a power hacksaw. While some of the smaller branches were found on the roadside, the main trunk was missing from the spot.
Based on the complaint of the engineer, the MGR Nagar police registered a case and are investigating. “We suspect a resident, who had been asking corporation staff to remove the tree from the road. A few days ago, when Electricity Board workers dug up the road, it became a hindrance for the resident to use the road. We have summoned some of the residents for an inquiry,” a senior police officer said.
ROOTED OUT: The corporation has filed a police complaint about the tree that was chopped without permission
Downpour batters city roads
Downpour batters city roads
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
25/8/2010 chennai page no.2
Chennai: The northeast monsoon is still months away but the heavy spells during last week have already left several interior and arterial roads in the city battered. Compounding the problems for motorists is the digging up of many stretches for laying of utility lines.
Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Royapettah High Road, Sterling Road, Anna Main Road in K K Nagar and Binny Road off Anna Salai are some of the worst-affected where rains have caused huge potholes. Attempts are being made to fill the potholes with debris but they are not enough to ensure a smooth ride. Improper consolidation of dug-up roads is causing concern, as the corporation has granted permission to several agencies for laying cables.
A classic example of a badly battered stretch is Anna Main Road off KK Nagar. The arterial road is the vital link for many coming from Jafferkhanpet, MGR Nagar, Nesapakkam and Ramapuram to move onto interior areas. According to V Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Pammal Nallathambi Street, MGR Nagar, the civic body has not made any efforts to restore the road for years, despite appeals. “The rains have added to the chaos,” he said. Metrowater dug up the road for laying pipelines under the Chennai City River Conservation Project a decade ago but the stretch has given way since then due to poor soil conditions.
The unseasonal rains, according to corporation office, are only going to delay road-relaying works. As per the original schedule, at least 60 bus route roads, for which tenders have been finalised, should have been relaid on or before September 19. Now with the continuous downpour, even roads that need repair, such as Tiruvottriyur High Road, Cemetery Road, De Mellows Road, Dr Ambedkar College Road, Purasawalkam High Road, Velachery Main Road, R K Mutt Road, Luz Church Road and Ramapuram Main Road, will have to wait.
Several stretches in the southern suburbs have also become unmotorable. Part of GST Road in Pallavaram, Pammal and Tambaram has been worn out. Rains have also left Station Border Road in Chromepet, Ram Nagar in Madipakkam, Velachery Main Road and Camp Road near East Tambaram with huge potholes.
The 9km-long Medavakkam Main Road, a state highway, has lost most of its bitumen and a large number of potholes now dot the stretch. The state highways department, the nodal agency that maintains the stretch, had only recently relaid it. “Every day, at least four accidents occur along the stretch. The rains only add to the misery to the residents,” said Mohammed Ismail, a trader in Keelkattalai. More rains likely for next 2 days
Chennai: Cloudy, wet weather is on the cards over the next few days in Tamil Nadu, with the southwest monsoon being quite active over neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Additionally, the formation of a low pressure area over west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal promises plenty of rainfall over the next two days.
“Although there has been a slight reduction in rains compared to last week, the trough extending over the peninsula promises plenty of scattered rainfall, specially over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” said Regional Meteorological Centre deputy director general YEA Raj.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, close to 8cm of rainfall was recorded in the city, fetching Chennai more than half its monthly normal of approximately 14cm. Last Wednesday also saw day temperature falling by four degrees Celsius from the monthly normal of 34 degrees. “ A similar fall in day temperature is expected on Wednesday and Thursday as well, and likely to be in the region of 31 degrees,” said Met officials.
On Tuesday, the city experienced heavy rains in Guindy and other areas close to the airport (6 mm of rainfall), although in Nungambakkam and other areas there was very little rain, accounting for just 1mm.
AFTERMATH OF RAINS: Most of the roads have lost their bitumen and are ridden with potholes after the recent rains
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
25/8/2010 chennai page no.2
Chennai: The northeast monsoon is still months away but the heavy spells during last week have already left several interior and arterial roads in the city battered. Compounding the problems for motorists is the digging up of many stretches for laying of utility lines.
Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Royapettah High Road, Sterling Road, Anna Main Road in K K Nagar and Binny Road off Anna Salai are some of the worst-affected where rains have caused huge potholes. Attempts are being made to fill the potholes with debris but they are not enough to ensure a smooth ride. Improper consolidation of dug-up roads is causing concern, as the corporation has granted permission to several agencies for laying cables.
A classic example of a badly battered stretch is Anna Main Road off KK Nagar. The arterial road is the vital link for many coming from Jafferkhanpet, MGR Nagar, Nesapakkam and Ramapuram to move onto interior areas. According to V Gopalakrishnan, a resident of Pammal Nallathambi Street, MGR Nagar, the civic body has not made any efforts to restore the road for years, despite appeals. “The rains have added to the chaos,” he said. Metrowater dug up the road for laying pipelines under the Chennai City River Conservation Project a decade ago but the stretch has given way since then due to poor soil conditions.
The unseasonal rains, according to corporation office, are only going to delay road-relaying works. As per the original schedule, at least 60 bus route roads, for which tenders have been finalised, should have been relaid on or before September 19. Now with the continuous downpour, even roads that need repair, such as Tiruvottriyur High Road, Cemetery Road, De Mellows Road, Dr Ambedkar College Road, Purasawalkam High Road, Velachery Main Road, R K Mutt Road, Luz Church Road and Ramapuram Main Road, will have to wait.
Several stretches in the southern suburbs have also become unmotorable. Part of GST Road in Pallavaram, Pammal and Tambaram has been worn out. Rains have also left Station Border Road in Chromepet, Ram Nagar in Madipakkam, Velachery Main Road and Camp Road near East Tambaram with huge potholes.
The 9km-long Medavakkam Main Road, a state highway, has lost most of its bitumen and a large number of potholes now dot the stretch. The state highways department, the nodal agency that maintains the stretch, had only recently relaid it. “Every day, at least four accidents occur along the stretch. The rains only add to the misery to the residents,” said Mohammed Ismail, a trader in Keelkattalai. More rains likely for next 2 days
Chennai: Cloudy, wet weather is on the cards over the next few days in Tamil Nadu, with the southwest monsoon being quite active over neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Additionally, the formation of a low pressure area over west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal promises plenty of rainfall over the next two days.
“Although there has been a slight reduction in rains compared to last week, the trough extending over the peninsula promises plenty of scattered rainfall, specially over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” said Regional Meteorological Centre deputy director general YEA Raj.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, close to 8cm of rainfall was recorded in the city, fetching Chennai more than half its monthly normal of approximately 14cm. Last Wednesday also saw day temperature falling by four degrees Celsius from the monthly normal of 34 degrees. “ A similar fall in day temperature is expected on Wednesday and Thursday as well, and likely to be in the region of 31 degrees,” said Met officials.
On Tuesday, the city experienced heavy rains in Guindy and other areas close to the airport (6 mm of rainfall), although in Nungambakkam and other areas there was very little rain, accounting for just 1mm.
AFTERMATH OF RAINS: Most of the roads have lost their bitumen and are ridden with potholes after the recent rains
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