PWD department not replying to query, claims RTI activist

Some, three years after filing a Right to Information (RTI) query with the public works department (PWD), activist Prakash Patil alleged he is yet to get appropriate information. Mr Patil had filed the RTI in February 2013 to expose an alleged recruitment scam in the department. He wanted the list of employees such as clerks, typists and daily workers who had been appointed according to the Kalekar Commission norms, which was formed for reservation of jobs for the backward classes.

Mr Patil in a letter written to the governor has stated, “I had approached the chief information commissioner (CIC), Ratnakar Gaikwad, in February 2014, after the PWD department in Dahanu, did not provide me with the appropriate information. Mr Gaikwad after looking into the matter had found the PWD department is guilty of not giving the documents demanded within the stipulated time. Mr Gaikwad had also blamed the deputy engineer and he was to take disciplinary action against the erring officials. Instead of taking action against the culprit, Mr Gaikwad is now protecting the officials for reasons best known to him.”

Mr Patil is, however, hopeful, as the governor has now ordered the state chief secretary to inquire into the matter. Earlier, he had also approached the first appellate authority, which is the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in the case.

Jayantilal Vora, Mr Patil’s lawyer, said the judge at the appellate authority had said that revealing information was not possible as it was a personal matter. “But we are yet to get the said judgement in a written form from the appellate authority,” said Mr Vora.

Mr Patil has written various letters to the then PWD minister, chief minister and also the same was done after the change of government in 2014. “They are shying away from revealing such basic information. How is information of a public representative being termed as personal matter ” Mr Patil asked.

However, when this newspaper tried to get in touch with Mr Gaikwad, he was not available for comment.

Swadheen Kshatriya, chief secretary, said, “I cannot comment on it as I will have to check the matter with my office first.”