RTI application seeking the status of the proposal for financial assistance
29 Jul, 2012Background
The appellant was a B. Tech and claimed to have invented gaseous hydro turbine for separating methane gas from the sea water. He submitted that he has been pursuing his proposal for financial assistance with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) for last five years but to no avail. The Public Information Officer (PIO) submitted that while one expert body had found merit in the appellant’s invention, but another expert body had given a negative report. Even so, the appellant’s proposal for financial assistance has not been totally rejected and he has been advised to file a revised proposal for further processing. The PIO also showed the willingness to invite the appellant to visit Delhi and make a presentation regarding his invention to an expert body on a mutually convenient date and time, for which the DSIR will pay second class to and fro rail fare and living expenses to the appellant.
View of CIC
The Central Information Commission (CIC) agreed with the contentions of the PIO and directed him to fulfill his commitment.
Comments
RTI has been used by the citizens in varied ways which may vary from fantastic to bizarre. Use of RTI Act by someone for filing a RTI application for getting finance for a research project and forcing the process of decision making to act in a certain manner is a real innovative manner of using the Act.
Citation: Mr. M. Samatha Rayalu v. Deptt. of Scientific and Industrial Research , in File No.CIC/LS/A/2011/001123
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/515
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