Kerala panchayat wants an RTI activist to be declared a public nuisance

Miffed over her series of queries, a village panchayat in Kerala has appealed to the state information commission to declare an RTI activist a public nuisance. The Pallichkal village panchayt had. earlier, passed a resolution against social activist V V Vijitha, who had rushed 35 RTI pleas to the panchayat office in a year.

Most of the applications, according to Vijitha, were about issues related to stone quarry units and exhaust of panchayat fund.

The resolution, passed on November 7, last year, said Vijitha was causing trouble for the panchayat staff by repeatedly moving RTI applications. “Even after answers are furnished for the applications, she pesters the officials seeking explanations. Besides, she also incites others to file RTI applications,” said Panchayat president B Rakesh.

“The information commission should look into her practice of sending unnecessary applications. She should be declared as public nuisance and necessary action should be taken against her.”

Rakesh said the panchayat was not against RTI. “We are replying all queries and all appeals. But Vijitha is posing hurdles for the smooth running of the office by pestering the staff. She had tried to disrupt the office function and threaten the staff. Once, she had faced a case in that regard.”

Vijitha said the panchayat president has no business in RTI. “I am seeking details from the panchayat secretary, who is the information officer. The president is worried that if the panchayat answers my queries, the corruption would be exposed. They had fabricated a case only to silence me. I would hold them responsible for every paisa the panchayat had spent. They don’t allow me to examine documents,” said Vijitha.

State Chief Information Commission Siby Mathew, however, rejected the panchayat’s plea saying there is no provision to declare a person as public nuisance.

Source:: Indian Express