Chennai, Feb 25: Aggrieved
over denial of information entitled to him under the, RTI Act, a social
activist has moved the Madras High Court seeking a direction
to the authorities concerned to provide the details of some phone calls.
Vishwanath
Swami contended that he was deeply aggrieved by the actions of
City Police Commissioner and SP of Crime Branch-CID of the State
Police, who were continuously denying the information he sought under
the Right to Information Act.
When the
writ petition came up for hearing, Justice D Murugasen ordered
for issuing of notice to Tamil Nadu Information Commission and
posted it for hearing after three weeks. The judge also permitted issue
of private notice to respondents.
The information
was essential for exposing the alleged unlawful activities of godman
Kalki Bhagavan, Swami said.
He contended
that despite the commission passing an order on November 14 last to
furnish the information sought by him, the Police Commissioner and the
SP denied the information.
Refusal
by the City Police Chief to comply with the direction of the Commission
rendered the provisions of the RTI Act entirely nugatory and caused
serious hardship and prejudice to him, the petitioner claimed.
Contending
that since 2001, he had been trying to expose the alleged multicrore
unlawful activities of Kalki Bhagavan and subject his activities to
legal scrutiny, the petitioner said he required three documents and
as many answers to specific questions for proving his allegations.
Claiming
that he has been struggling for the last six months to get the required
information and documents under the Act, he alleged that his requests
had been turned down on one pretext or other with malafide intention.
He said
on October 6 last, he approached the commission to redress his grievance.
After conducting an inquiry, the commission. on November 9 directed
the Police Commissioner to provide him the documents and information.
However,
on November 14, the commission passed a final order only partially accepting
his case and which allegedly was inconsistent with the earlier order.
The petitioner also prayed for an
order for initiating departmental proceedings against those responsible
for denying him the information sought under the RTI act. PTI
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