B’luru: RTI activists upset as Commission dismisses 6,946 appellate applications in one day
Bengaluru: RTI (Right to Information) activists in Karnataka are raising concerns over the State Information Commission's alleged attempt to dismiss a large number of appellate applications related to the previous BJP government's actions in the state. They claim that the commission is trying to cover up irregularities during the BJP's tenure by swiftly dismissing 6,946 such applications in a single day.
The activists argued that the Commission has a responsibility to provide the information requested by applicants, and the mass dismissal of these applications weakens the RTI Act. They asserted that no other state has seen such a significant and abrupt dismissal of RTI-related applications. They expressed the view that this move by the State Information Commission in Karnataka will only serve to exacerbate cases of corruption within government departments.
Furthermore, the activists pointed out that by the end of 2022, approximately 28,000 appellate applications were pending review by the Commission. However, under the leadership of NC Srinivas, the new commissioner, this number has surged to 42,000. Most of these pending applications are related to cases governed by RTI Act Section 4(1) (A) (B).
The activists also raised concerns about the handling of applications through video conferencing since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. They perceived this as an indication of the Commission's irresponsible behavior and attitude towards its responsibilities.
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School headmaster dies after bike falls into roadside ditch in Karnataka's Chitradurga
Chitradurga (Karnataka) (PTI): A school headmaster died and another person was seriously injured after their bike allegedly fell into a roadside ditch in this district on Wednesday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Premkumar (45) of Rampura village in Molakalmuru taluk.
He was serving as the headmaster at Basaveshwara Rural High School in BG Kere village, they said.
The accident occurred near Vittalapura close to Devasamudra in Molakalmuru taluk on Wednesday evening, police said.
According to police, the accident occurred when the bike allegedly fell into a roadside ditch at a curve on the road connecting Rayadurg in Andhra Pradesh to Rampura.
The injured person has been identified as Ramanjaneya of Pakkurthi village. As he sustained severe injuries, he has been admitted to VIMS Hospital in Ballari for treatment, a senior police officer said.
A case has been registered at Rampura Police Station, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
