Civic body denies info on vendors’ survey under RTI

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 20

The Appellant Authority of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has refused to give the information regarding the survey of vendors in the city.

RK Garg, an RTI activist, has challenged the order of the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the MC denying sharing the details of the survey under the RTI Act by terming it as “third-party information” before the Appellant Authority.

Garg in the application filed before the CPIO in November last year sought the details of the survey carried out by the MC through the Haryana Nav Yuvak Kala Sangam. After the CPIO refused it, Garg moved the Appellant Authority.

Garg contended that the denial of the information on the basis of the fact that it was third-party information was wrong. Garg said that the Haryana Nav Yuvak Kala Sangam was not a third party as it carried out the survey on public money and in the public interest.

During the hearing, the CPIO justified his stand before appellant authority by saying that when the MC sought the consent of the Haryana Nav Yuvak Kala Sangam in this regard, the firm had refused to cooperate. The CPIO said a copy of the RFP and the tender document were already given to the applicant.

After hearing both sides, the Appellant Authority stated that the information regarding the survey is related to a third party. So, it could not be shared with the applicant as the third party has refused to give its consent. Therefore, the appeal is disposed of with the order.

Meanwhile, Garg said denying the information regarding the survey is unjustified. He said he sought the information regarding the mode survey, payment and bills and discrepancies in the survey. He said: “How the number of vendors reduced from 21, 000 to 6,000 in the survey?” Garg said the whole issue needed to be probed by the CBI.

Appellant Authority orders

After hearing both sides, the Appellant Authority stated that the information regarding the survey is related to a third party. So, it could not be shared with the applicant as the third party has refused to give its consent in this regard. Therefore, the appeal is disposed of with the order.

Applicant says

How the number of vendors reduced from 21, 000 to 6,000 in the survey? The issue needs to be probed by the CBI.