Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 10: The General Post Office (GPO) Srinagar has denied details about the sale of Postal Orders (IPOs) across various districts of Kashmir under RTI even after the elapse of 30 days. Earlier the Public Information Officer (PIO) of GPO Srinagar had told an information seeker that he cannot provide this information in an excel format, now the information has been completely denied.
Details available with Early Times reveal that GPO Srinagar provided a misleading information to an RTI Activist wherein the Senior Postmaster informed in writing that information under RTI Act cannot be provided in an excel format.
Pertinent to mention that RTI activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat had filed an application under Central RTI Act 2005 before PIO of General Post Office (GPO) Srinagar on 11.6.2016. Information seeker wanted details about the number of Indian Postal Orders of Rs 10 denomination supplied to various post offices from June 2015 to May 2016 . The post offices about which information was sought included Rajbagh , Jawahar Nagar , Natipora , Rambagh , Bagh e Mehtab, Chadoora , Wathoora, Budgam , Beerwah, Khag , Charar I Sharief , Khansahib, Gurez , Bandipora, Sumbal, Rainawari, Hazratbal, Shalimar, Eid Gah, Safakadal, Ganderbal , Lar , Kangan, Shopian , Pulwama , Pampore, Raj Pora, Mattan , Achabal , Pahalgam.
Information seeker had filed RTI application to know the details of postal orders being send to aforementioned post offices. It is alleged that most of the post offices hardly have Rs 10 Indian Postal Orders (IPO) available which is a mode of fees to be paid under RTI Act 2005.
" I am going to take up this matter with Central Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and Union Telecom Secretary. How can postal officers be so callous in replying an RTI application" Dr Muzaffar added.
Information seeker had also sought reasons as to why Department of Posts was not keeping adequate Indian Postal Orders of Rs10 denomination available in different post offices as these IPOs have a great demand in view of being used to pay fees under Right to Information Act (RTI). This information has also been denied by the GPO officials even after passage of 30 days
Early Times had filed a detailed report on this issue in June as well. |
