|
Ahmedabad, February 20: STATE Information Commission has directed the Public Information Officer (PIO) and Deputy Secretary of Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Secretariat to send a copy of Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Rules, free of charge to Satubha Waghela, editor of Surendranagar Times from Sayla, Surendranagar.
Waghela had sought some information on three points from the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat under the Right to Information Act on December 30 last. Though the secretariat had provided him adequate information on the first two queries, it advised Waghela to procure a copy of the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Rules, which is a priced publication.
Subsequently, Waghela sent Rs 300 by postal money order (MO) to the secretariat as a price of the publication. However, the secretariat refused the MO. Waghela complained to the commission, saying that the return of the MO was not proper and adequate action should be initiated against the PIO.
The matter came up for hearing on January 18 last. The PIO pointed out that the secretariat rules do not permit accepting MOs, the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) R N Das observed that to procure the Rule book Waghela would be disproportionately burdened to come all the way to Gandhinagar from Sayla.
While State CIC asked PIO to send Waghela a copy of Gujarat Vidhan Sabha Rules free of any charge, it also asked the PIO to consider revising the rules, instructions and information at least under the Right to Information Act. |