Today I received a complaint from
one Rita gupta. She had a hearing in pune municipal corporation .Instead of
hearing her appeal, appellate authority humiliated her. These type incidences
are increasing wherever information commissioners are very weak or low caliber
Whenever public information officers or appellate authorities come to know that
whatever the case may be for many years second appeal will not come before the
information commissioner for hearing or even if it comes, they are sure that
commissioner will not take any action on officers.
It is not difficult to understand that
from where this type of confidence comes. How can they dare to humiliate any
RTI appellant and particularly a woman? The hearing (?) took place yesterday (14th
may) the woman met me today (15th may), Even today it was difficult for her to
stop tears, she was miserably upset.
It is clear that from the facts
that PMC was trying to shield its officers. However, problem is, why PMC officer
humiliated her. He could have easily heard her appeal and give the decision
whatever he deemed fit. Instead of doing that, he chose to harass her. If this
the status of the RTI applicants or appellants in big city like Pune one can
imagine what will be the scenario in remote areas?
Reproducing that womans letter ,
In the bracket are some corrections in spellings made by me.
Dear Sir,
I Rita Gupta R/O Koregaon Park ,
Actually I and my society Managing
Committee secretary has various issues, which are pending before Registrar .Regard to this I need
to show my Society master plan. so I
have applied in corporation for the same ,they gave me answer, that they are
not finding this file" in writting .
I went for first appeal, then I
received a letter, that I have a hearing on 14-5-2013.I reached on time at 11
am . But Mr. Sarode (Appellate Authority ) was not there .After 12.40 .He came
inside the cabin .As I went inside I saw his attitute was very rude, careless,
harsh.He did not hear me at all. I was keep requesting him to give me a change
(chance), but he was keep humiliating me.It was very painfull hearing .I was
haressed (harrased) like anything.Finally I asked him "Why did you called
me up if you do not want to hear me ." then he gave me very irresponsible
answer .Because you appelled it.
Then I came down emotionally and
mentally drained. I started crying almost 2 hours. Then I deceided to meet Mr.
vivak (Vivek Kharawadkar addl city engineer) and gave him in writting that Mr.
Sarode tourtured me .Mr Sarode and Raskar and Dhanjay Jadhav said sorry to me .
But I do not feel this is just enough. I suffered a lot all day.This officer
gave me lot of pain .I am still going through pain; woman has to be respected
by corporation officers.
Please help me in this matter.I
want Mr. Sarode should transfer, so it should established as a moral."
women also have selfesteem".
Rita Gupta
