Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Now they feel empowered, thanks to Right to Information Act

Staff Reporter

TIRUCHI : The Right to Information Act, 2005, has created a new sense of empowerment to residents of Mahalakshmi Nagar in the city corporation's 27th ward coming under Tiruverumbur Assembly constituency.

Peeved at lack of response from officials to its repeated representations to the authorities concerned for installing a polling booth, the Mahalakshmi Nagar Valarchi Mandram has now sought a reply from the Election Commission of India, as per the Act, some of the provisions of which became effective from October 12, 2005 (120th day of its enactment on June 15.)

The provisions pertain to obligations of public authorities, designation of Public Information Officers and Assistant Public Information Officers, constitution of Central and State Information Commissions, non-applicability of the Act to Intelligence and Security Organisations, and power to make rules to carry out the provisions.

Though there were 1,500 voters in and around Mahalakshmi Nagar, the residents had to go to polling booths located about four to five km away, over the past decade. As per Election Commission norms, polling booth should be within a maximum of 2 km from residential pockets with a population density.

The Mandram has sought details of the action taken by officials on its innumerable representations and reminders. In fact, the Manram forwarded its representation to the President too. The President, according to the Manram president, M. Muthusamy, had acknowledged the representation and forwarded it to the Election Commission.

However, the residents might have to wait for a little longer to get an appropriate response. Many of the authorities, the Corporation in this case, are yet to designate Public Information Officers, in accordance with the Act. As per the Act, only the PIO could deal with requests from persons seeking information. If the subject matter is closely connected with the function of another public authority, the PIO is supposed to transfer the request within five days.

The PIO, on receipt of the request, should either provide information on payment of prescribed fee or reject the request specifying the reasons, within 30 days (48 hours for information concerning the life and liberty of a person). Failure to provide the information within the specified period is deemed to be a refusal by the PIO.

In the event of rejecting the request, the PIO has to communicate the reasons for such rejection, the period within which an appeal against such rejection may be preferred, and the particulars of the Appellate Authority.

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