Jashodaben files appeal to the superintendent of police against rejection of RTI application
4 Jan, 2015Jashodaben, a retired school teacher who lives at Unjha town of Mehsana district with her brother, was given security by Mehasana police after the swearing in of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister (PM). Ten policemen, including armed guards work in two shifts, five each in one shift, for her security.
Jashodaben, 64, had filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on November 24, 2014 seeking information about the copy of orders for the security cover given to her. Expressing unhappiness about the current security set-up where her guards travel in government vehicles while she has to travel in public transport, she had asked about the laws and related provisions in Indian Constitution regarding the security cover given to a PM’s wife. She demanded to know the definition of ‘protocol’ and sought details about the different entiltlements / benefits to which she is entitled to as per that protocol. She signed the RTI application as Jashodaben Narendrabhai Modi i.e. the wife of Narendra Modi.
Her application was rejected on the ground that the information is related to LIB and as per Gujarat Home Department, LIB is exempted from RTI Act. The reply by the public information officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) in Mehsana Bhakti Thakar reads “The information sought by you (Jashodaben Modi) was related with the LIB and as per the Gujarat Home Department’s resolution number SB.1/1020018203/GOI/62 of dated November 25, LIB has been exempted from RTI Act and therefore the asked information cannot be given to you.” The reply mentions her name as Jashodaben, daughter of Chimanlal Modi.
In a quick action, she has filed an appeal on December 30, 2014 with the office of district superintendent of police (SP) in Mehsana challenging the reply given to her. Jashodaben has said that while the RTI application was filed as the wife of PM, the reply has been provided in the name of her father which has insulted her dignity as a married woman.
The appeal argues that the reply is against the principles of the law and only a single reason was given to her against all her questions. She has asked for the copy of orders for the security cover given to her claiming that the same is not related to LIB (local intelligence bureau). She feels sccared of the security personnel escorting her and has cited the instance of the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was killed by her own security guards. She has also demanded that each guard should carry the copy of deployment order.