RTI reveals Gujarat CM Office doesn’t keep records of the visitors
4 Sep, 2013
An application was filed with the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details about the persons, who visited CMO and met with the chief minister during the period from June, 2008 and December, 2008.
Initially no reply came from the PIO and the application was transferred between the Chief Minister's Office and General Administration Department. However, when the information was provided, it stated that the demanded information could not be furnished as there was no system of keeping the track of visitors at the CMO. Aggrieved by the reply, the applicant approached the Gujarat State Information Commission (SIC) contending that in order to meet the chief minister, one has to seek appointment either through written application or through e-mail, both of which could be traced.
The information commissioner, after hearing the case, has asked the CMO to provide the demanded information to the appellant within 15 days or the explanation as to why the information cannot be provided.