UNDER the Maharashtra Right to Information (MRTI) Act, 2002, citizens have the right to demand answers from public bodies that would normally remain barricaded behind impenetrable bureaucracy.
But to get those answers, you need to write to the Public Information Officer (PIO) responsible for a particular department. But just getting the PIO’s name can be an exercise in frustration.
Under MRTI rules, every competent authority should display a board with the name, designation and address of Public Information Officers (PIOs) in a prominent place.
Newsline went to check up on three major public bodies—the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Mumbai Police and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).
The BMC and BEST had both taken steps to follow the law, but the law-enforcers—the police—were sorely lacking.
Outside gate number seven at the BMC’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus headquarters, a fresh PIO board is clearly displayed.
‘‘We have ensured that boards are displayed outside all BMC ward offices so people know who to approach to seek information,’’ said Dadasaheb Shivjatak, BMC public relations officer.
The BMC has simplified their system by making department heads also PIOs, with additional commissioners taking of the role of PIO for each overall ward, said Shivjatak.
At the BEST, public relations officer A S Tamboli—also a PIO—points proudly to the board outside his office: ‘‘We’ve also displayed the number of applications received and those we have addressed,’’ he says.
But Newsline couldn’t find a single police station that had erected a board stating the names of PIOs or the appellate officers—those who have the final say on requests for information.
‘‘We can’t provide information about each and everything on one board. That is impractical,’’ says Rajnish Seth, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Headquarters).
He said the Mumbai Police website (www.mumbaipolice.com) would be updated soon. Information boards would be erected in ‘‘at least select places’’, he promised. Seth himself is the appellate officer for the Mumbai police headquarters at Crawford Market.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Shailesh Kale said the ACP of each regional control room has been appointed as PIO, with Deputy Commissioners taking on the role of appellate authorities. There are 15 PIOs and 15 appellate officers in the Mumbai police.
But without easy access to their names, citizens will find it hard to use the MRTI Act.