CORRUPTION INFO SEEKER THREATENED IN CHENNAI

●CORRUPTION INFO SEEKER THREATENED IN CHENNAI on Deccan Chroncile dated 23/3/09
page no.6
A RTI petitionto seek information about distribution of financial assistance under various welfare schemes like old and widow pensions to the beneficiaries in Vellore taluk limit has invited goons for the help of revenue officials to hush up the petitioner.

Having come to know about malpractices in implementing welfare schemes in Vellore taluk office, an RTI activist and resident of Chennai, V. Gopalakrishnan, petitioned the public information officer (PIO) of Vellore tahsildar office seeking details about the list of beneficiaries of the welfare schemes. The petition was filed on February 11 this year.

The petitioner urged that he be furnished a photocopy of the application, enquiry records, reports of village administration officer (VAO) and revenue inspector (RI), office note and sanction order in respect of the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes from October 2008 to January 2009.

This includes pensions to physical handicapped, OAPs and widows.

When he sent the reply to Gopalakrishnan asking him to remit Rs 21,608 to get the details, tashildar S. Thangavelu may have violated the RTIO Act as he was not the PIO or authenticating official to reply to the RTI petition. Following the letter on March 12, two persons claiming to be real estate dealers allegedly came to the petitioner’s house and working place in Chennai.

They informed Gopalakrishnan that they were sent by Vaniyambadi tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar, who was then SSS tashildar in Vellore during the period for which the petitioner sought the information.

They threatened him of dire consequence, if he did not withdraw the RTI petition.

“The two had also been to my house when I was not there. Telling me that Sharmila Jayakumar has sent them, the two said we could arrive at an amicable solution. I have video proof of the threat,” said the petitioner, adding that he immediately mailed the chief minister’s cell, chief information commissioner of Tamil Nadu information commission and district collector on the incident seeking protection for him and his family.

Meantime, an application was filed under RTI Act by his cousin Laxmanan urging the district administration to furnish the details about the properties of Tashildar Sharmila Jayakumar on February 9. But no reply has been provided till date, he said. District collector C.Rajendran said, “I will enquire into the matter and take appropriate action against errant officials.”