Rajasthan man gets condoms in reply for RTI query

A petitioner from Rajasthan who demanded answers under the Right to Information (RTI) Act over an issue related to alleged corrupt practices in a village panchayat was allegedly shipped sealed packets of contraceptives instead of the reply.

The Right To Information Act of the Parliament of India was envisaged with the aim that any citizen of India may request information from a "public authority" (a body of Government or "instrumentality of State") which is required to reply expeditiously to information sought within 30 days.

However, for the responsible officials at the Bari Gram Panchayat of Bhadra Tehsil in Hanumangarh district this Act doesn't seem to hold water, according to Vikas Choudhary. Condoms were reportedly mailed to him by post after he sought information regarding the gram panchayat under the information Act.

The incident is not the first one to be reported from the village. Earlier, another person, identified as Manohar Lal, had asked for the same information. He too allegedly had got a packet of condoms in reply, sources said.

Since the previous incident was already reported in the village circles, this time when Choudhary received the reply by mail, he started recording the unboxing of the envelope. He switched on a smartphone camera before opening the envelope and captured the act.

The matter has been brought to the notice of Bari Gram Panchayat of Bhadra Tehsil in Hanumangarh district and the villagers are now seeking a reply on who the culprit is behind this act.

Media reports say chief executive officer (CEO) of Hanumangarh Jila Parishad Navneet Kumar has called it a "mischievous act".

"The regrettable and illegal act has been done by some unknown person who appears to have access in the official system," Kumar said.

The official has assured of swift action against the culprit for misusing the RTI.

Ever since it was implmented, RTI has been used by lakhs of citizens across the country to exercise their right to information.

The law has also empowered the common public to expose corrupt practices in various government projects and schemes.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

• This is not the first incident of condoms being sent against RTI queries in the village
   
• Alerted by past stories, Choudhary recorded unboxing of the envelope
   
• Calling it ‘mischievous act, officials have promised swift action against the culprit

— Agency inputs