(Image source from: RTI torchbearer Arvind Kejriwal refuses to divulge information})

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who started his civil society career as a Right to Information activist (RTI) is now reluctant to share information regarding key decisions taken by his government. The AAP chief also won the Magsaysay award in 2006 for his efforts in spreading public awareness regarding RTI act.

Kejriwal, whose Delhi-based NGO Parivartan had advocated for transparency and accountability under RTI, now seems recultant to divulge information on decisions taken on free water and reduced power tariff by directing RTI requests to irrelevant departments.

Noida-based Dev Ashish Bhattacharya has asked for two information under the RTI act, but he's yet to get an answer even after more than a month has passed since he filed the applications. His queries have been diverted to 22 departments, mostly not connected to his question, of the Delhi government but the answers he want is still elusive.

On January 2 Bhattacharya filed an application seeking file notings on two important decisions taken by Kejriwal government – free supply of 20,000 litres of water annually to every household and power tariff reduction by 50% through subsidy.

Again on January 4, he sought information on the cost incurred in the swearing-in ceremony at Ramlila Maidan by the AAP government and on the money spent in sprucing up the bunglows at Bhagwan Das Road mean for the Kejriwal, but he declined later.

The two requests for information has travelled to 22 departments and most of them responded with the answer that the particular information sought lies outside their jurisdiction. The application were forwarded irrelevant departments like Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and even fire service.

The queries sought by Dev Ashish Bhattacharya are simple and should have been answered but for some reason the Arvind Kejriwal government seems to be unwilling to share information.

(Picture Source: thehindu.com)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)

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