Pune zilla parishad details insufficient and old: RTI activists

Right to Information (RTI) activists Vivek Velankar and Vishwas Sahastrabuddhe have complained to the state information commission (SIC), Pune bench, and the general administration department (GAD) of the state government that the information provided by the Pune zilla parishad (ZP) under section 4 of the RTI Act, 2005, is insufficient and old.

“Stern action should be taken against the officials,” the duo demanded. It is mandatory for all public authorities under section 4 of RTI Act, 2005, to voluntarily disclose information about it.
The state government had issued an order in this regard on July 24, 2009, to all public authorities under it to follow section 4 and disclose information regarding all 17 points under the section.

The state government had made it clear that if it receives any complaints from the public, stern action would be taken against the officers concerned and such mention should be made in the confidential report of the head of the office.

Velankar and Sahastrabuddhe recently visited the office of Pune ZP to inspect the files made available to the public under section 4. They found that the information made available was insufficient and old. Hence, they filed a complaint with the state
information commissioner.

They said in the complaint that the ZP gives grants to many citizens. But in the list of beneficiaries, it is mentioned as nil. The standards of time limit in which the work is to be completed are also not mentioned in the information published.