AHMEDABAD: It was a routine RTI application — seeking information on the castes included in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) or the Baxi Panch list, and reservation benefits. This information should have been provided by the office of the Commission for Other Backward Classes without a hitch. But the applicant, Maulik Shrimali, was startled to find a reply from the secretary of the commission in which Shrimali was asked to provide the details of his caste and the reason why he sought the information. This letter, dated May 26, was written by R V Chavda.
"If you have used RTI to procure information after somebody from our office refused to provide you the same, you can invoke the provisions under the RTI Act," Chavda wrote. "But to make it (RTI Act) a weapon to get information is not appreciable." Chavda went on to say, "We would require details of your caste, reasons for seeking such information and the number of times you have approached this office to get the desired information." Chavda's letter went a step further and asked Shrimali to prove that he had approached the commission for the reply and was denied help.
"I am confused with this reply. How can the official ask me the reason for seeking such basic details that should have been available on the commission's website?" said Shrimali. "Information on subsidies, government posts assigned to OBC members, and other such details should be made public. Why am I asked to provide details of my caste?"
Pankti Jog, a member of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pehel (MAGP) told TOI, "The information that Shrimali asked should have been provided under section 4 1(b) of the RTI Act, which is proactive disclosure." By no means can a government official seek personal details of applicants under this law, Jog said. "The guidelines are provided under manuals 11, 12, and 13 of section 4," Jog said.
"If you have used RTI to procure information after somebody from our office refused to provide you the same, you can invoke the provisions under the RTI Act," Chavda wrote. "But to make it (RTI Act) a weapon to get information is not appreciable." Chavda went on to say, "We would require details of your caste, reasons for seeking such information and the number of times you have approached this office to get the desired information." Chavda's letter went a step further and asked Shrimali to prove that he had approached the commission for the reply and was denied help.
"I am confused with this reply. How can the official ask me the reason for seeking such basic details that should have been available on the commission's website?" said Shrimali. "Information on subsidies, government posts assigned to OBC members, and other such details should be made public. Why am I asked to provide details of my caste?"
Pankti Jog, a member of the Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pehel (MAGP) told TOI, "The information that Shrimali asked should have been provided under section 4 1(b) of the RTI Act, which is proactive disclosure." By no means can a government official seek personal details of applicants under this law, Jog said. "The guidelines are provided under manuals 11, 12, and 13 of section 4," Jog said.
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