Is Lokayukata beyond the purview of RTI Act?
23 Jun, 2013While hearing an appeal filed by an RTI activist, Mr. Beg, Uttar Pradesh Information Commission has issued notice to the Lokayukta office for not providing information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on the plea that that it was not in the ambit of the Act.
The applicant had filed an application under RTI Act with the Lokayukta seeking information regarding list of people who had lodged complaints against officers and employees of various department; action taken on the complaints, district and year-wise; list of cases disposed and indictment.
The Public Information Officer (PIO), Lokayukta office submitted that investigating agencies were not covered under section 8 of the RTI. He also stated that the government through a notification issued on August 2 last year kept the Lokayukta out of the ambit of the Act as it was an investigating agency.
Issuing the notice, the Commission asked the Lokayukta office to clarify the situation and said that why action should not be taken against the PIO.