Andhra Assembly yet to disclose the assets and liabilities of its members
3 Apr, 2014An application was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Rakesh Kumar Dubbudu seeking details of year-by-year appreciation of assets of MLAs and MLCs. Though the application was filed in November 2012, a reply is yet to be received even after filing of the second appeal.
As per Rule 364 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in AP Legislature, “Every member should declare his / her assets and liabilities to the Speaker within 30 days of taking oath and, thereafter, shall declare only whenever there is a change in his/her assets and liabilities before July 31 next, while in office. Such declaration shall be treated as a public document.”
However, S Raja Sadaram, Secretary of the AP Legislature Secretariat has claimed that as the legislature is in suspended animation, the information cannot be provided. He has averred that the issue is still pending with the ethics committee which does not exist now. Further, many legislators do not declare their assets but such an act is not a penal offence.
The applicant has requested several times in writing before the Stat Information Commission (SIC) that the hearing be expedited in the matter as it is an important issue with ensuing elections, but the issue is yet to reach a conclusion even 16 months after the filing of the RTI application.