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| Ex-Minister's aide threatens whistleblower | | | GS Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 12: A close aide of former powerful Minister, Sarpanch Chack Desa Singh has reportedly intimidated an RTI information seeker, who had sought information from Block Development Officer (BDO) regarding development works executed in the panchayat since 2012.
Information seeker informed Early Times that he had filed an RTI application through speed post in the month of January but due to alleged close nexus of bureaucracy and influential Sarpanch, the Rural Development Department (RDD) has so far neither divulged the information nor sent any acknowledgment.
"As I filed first appeal to the Appellate authority who is Block Development Officer Kathua, the latter denied to have received any application", said Kuldeep Singh, the RTI applicant.
"Ironically, just after few days of filing the application, the influential Sarpanch had pressurized me to withdraw the RTI application and when I refused to budge, he threatened me", alleged information seeker.
Raising finger over working of the department and the PIO deputed by RDD for addressing RTI applications, the RTI applicant said that on one hand, the department (First Appellate Authority) denied of receiving the information regarding Panchayat Chack Desa Singh, but on other hand while the Sarpanch openly claimed in Gram Sabha meeting that Kuldeep Singh has filed an RTI application in BDO office and sought information regarding development works done by the Panchayat so far since 2012, it only signals towards nexus of BDO office employees with Sarpanch.
He further claimed that intentionally, the officials of the department concerned have made mockery of RTI Act, 2009 and has allegedly been covering-up the wrong doings committed by either officials concerned or Panchayat heads", alleged the information seeker.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the application, the seeker had sought information on two points which reads as, "Provide me copy of resolutions passed by Panchayat since 2012 and Provide the list of development works under all heads done by the Panchayat since 2012".
"If department has so far been failed to divulge the information, it's clearly meant that either the department has not maintained their respective records or it smells something foul in working of Panchayat and RDD", he said.
Pertinently, the influence and muscle power of Sarpanch of Desa Singh could be gauged from fact that few years back, he had misbehaved with employees and had also decamped with all records from BDO’s office, after which employees had lodged a protest against Sarpanch.
Despite holding protest demonstrations for few days, the then district administration officials under the influence of the Minister, had hushed up the matter by reaching a compromise.
When contacted to BDO, Kathua Om Dutt Attri said that he had not received RTI application but he was ready to provide information to seeker tomorrow. |
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