Seeking similar info thru multiple pleas misuse of transparency law: Raj info panel

Filing multiple applications to seek identical information serving no public interest is misuse of the Right to Information Act, the Rajasthan Information Commission has said.

Information Commissioner Ashutosh Sharma observed it in one of his recent orders, while quashing eight appeals by an activist, Gopiram Agarwal, who had allegedly sought similar information from Banswara Nagar Parishad through different applications.

"The RTI is a weapon that Indian democracy has given to the common people. It has ensured transparency and accountability but its misuse would not be allowed as it affects people and the government's works," Sharma said in his order.

Agarwal had filed 1,502 RTI applications to Banswara Nagar Parishad to seek information related to the development works by the civic body.

Arguing for dismissal of Agarwal's appeals, the civic body counsel had contended that due to the "work load", it was not possible to reply to each and every plea seeking similar information through multiple applications, which, he said, was a misuse of the Act.

Agreeing with the civic body's contention, Sharma quashed the appeals on grounds of seeking similar information through different applications.