Orissa RTI Rules set aflame

By the Sit-in Demonstrators in front of Orissa Legislative Assembly

A Sit-in Demonstration to protest against the ultra-vires and anti-people Orissa Right to Information Rules was held on 22^nd November 2005 in front of the Orissa Legislative Assembly, where the Government Publication called “Orissa RTI Rules 200” was consigned to a bonfire by the civil society activists hailing from different parts of the State.

On the occasion a Memorandum was addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly with its copy served to the Chief Minister, Governor and State Chief Information Commissioner. In the said Memorandum, the signatories have demanded a complete withdrawal of the Orissa RTI Rules and introduction in its place of a set of citizen-friendly Rules for the State in conformity with the parent law, Right to Information Act 2005. The alternative Rules for the State should be given a final shape only after seeking the public opinion as required under the Section 24 of the Orissa General Clauses Act 1973, the Memorandum demanded.

A meeting was held at the venue of the demonstration under the presidentship of Mr. Pradip Pradhan, Convener of Orissa Right to Food Campaign, a platform of civil society groups, spearheading the current agitation against the unjust and illegitimate Orissa RTI Rules.

Several speakers expressed their apprehension that if the present ultra vires State Rules are allowed to continue further, then the newly formed State Information Commission can not deliver penalty against the errant officers denying information or justice to the innocent citizens seeking information under the Act. Rather the Commission besides being another white elephant on the depleted exchequer shall in all probability serve as an agent and instrument for the dishonest and the corrupt bureaucrats and other vested interests.

The speakers also expressed their bewilderment at the deadly silence and apathy that the State Government has been maintaining towards the volley of representations made by the civil society groups on various occasions before the Chief Minister and Governor of the State demanding the withdrawal of the flaw-ridden Orissa RTI rules. The speakers on the occasion were Mr.Baishnab Parida, Pradyumna Satpathy, Ashok Das, Madhusudhan Das, Nirakar Beura, Narendra Mohanty, Pradipta Nayak, Ms.Dharitree Das and Abharani Choudary among others.

The participants of the Dharana resolved to continue their current agitation against the unacceptable Orissa RTI Rules and expand it State wide, until the citizen-friendly Rules are in place, in consonance with the mother Act and based upon the public opinion. A 5 member team led by Mr.Pradip Pradhan submitted the Memorandum to the office of the Chief Minister & Speaker of the Assembly.

Report by: Mr.Pradip Pradhan, Convener, Orissa Right to Food Campaign, Bhubneswar ( thehumanity@rediffmail.com )