Assault on Ms Deepti Ghosal, RTI Activist and Student of Mira Road condemned
26 Sep, 2013We condemn the assault on Ms Deepti Ghosal, RTI Activist and Student of Mira Road.
We also condemn the attitude of the Mira Road police who did not take appropriate action to prevent this assault and demand that the guilty police officials must be taken to task.
We demand that a thorough and fast investigation into the assault and immediate steps to arrest those responsible for this attack failing which civil society groups will demonstrate outside the said Police Station.
Police Reforms Watch, Mahiti Adhikar Manch, Watchdog Foundation, Save Our Land [Soul] Team were shocked to read about the brutal attack on the College Student, Ms Deepti Ghosal, an 18 year old RTI activist from Mira Road. This is the latest in a series of attacks on RTI activists in the city as well as in our state.
Every incident in the past has only brought us assurances of protection, but at the ground level we remain helpless. In this case too, Deepti.
Bhaskar Prabhu
Appended below the message sent by Sh Ratnakar Gaikwad, SCIC, Maharashtra in response to our press note posted earlier in this group. We appreciate his immediate and spontaneous response to send message to Chief Secretary Mr. Banthia, Government of Maharashtra to take corrective measures,
Bhaskar Prabhu
Ratnakar Gaikwad 26/9/2013
Chief Information Commissioner,
Maharashtra
Dear Shri Banthia,
Of late, there has been sharp increase in number of assaults on RTI activists. The recent assault on Ms Deepti Ghosal, RTI Activist and Student of Mira Road is a cause for serious concern. As you are aware, the effective implementation of RTI Act depends among other things on giving adequate protection to whistle blowers/ RTI activists who expose the vested interests and corruption in Public Authorities. Unfortunately, Government has so far not taken effective and adequate steps in the matter.
I would like to bring to your notice, a resolution passed in the meeting of the Central Information Commission held on 13.9.2011 chaired by the then Chief Information Commissioner, Shri Satyananda Mishra:
"The Central Information Commission expresses regret and takes note of the reported killings of and assault on the RTI users across the country. The Commission underlines the need to take urgent steps by the respective Governments for the safety and protection of the RTI users. The Commission strongly believes that it is the duty and responsibility of the respective Governments to safeguard the life and liberty of the RTI users for which purpose they should invoke the relevant penal provisions for the prevention and detection of such heinous crimes.".....
This commission therefore requests the state government to take urgent steps in the matter by issuing suitable instructions to Director General of Police, Maharashtra as well as to all Commissioners of Police to take proactive and effective steps to give protection to RTI Activists in the state.
Regards,
Ratnakar Gaikwad
Chief Information Commissioner,
Maharashtra