CHENNAI: The
Right to Information (RTI) Act can be a potent weapon to check illegal and
criminal activities in fair price shops and hence details relating to public
distribution system should not be denied to applicants, the Madras High Court
has held.
Directive to
cooperative bank
Justice K.
Chandru, directing a primary agricultural cooperative bank, which runs seven
fair price shops in Tiruvannamalai district to provide certain information,
said: “In these days, when there is an increasing allegation of misfeasance and
malfeasance committed in fair price shops coming to the notice of the public,
the RTI Act can be a potent weapon to check such illegal and criminal activities
of the staff employed in those shops. If, ultimately, by furnishing such
information, the affairs of Society can be brought to the attention of
authorities in-charge of supply of essential commodities, it can stem the tide
of further rot in the system.”
The matter
relates to a request by G. Azhagammal for details regarding seven ration shops
run by the Vettavalam Primary Agricultural Cooperative Bank. She sought
information such as sales register, daily sales details, stock register and
leave details.
Plea against
order
Aggrieved by
the plea, a ration shop salesman, A.C. Sekar, filed the present petition
ouestioning the Deputy Registrar’s order directing the bank to provide the
information to the applicant.
Mr. Sekar said
the documents would cost nearly Rs.25,000 and that the applicant had falsely
claimed that she hailed from a below the poverty line (BPL) family.
The matter
concerned pertained to an inter-office communication between the authorities,
and the applicant had no locus standi to demand the information, he said.
Arguments
rejected
Rejecting the
arguments, Mr. Justice Chandru said that Mr. Sekar, working in a shop where
public distribution system commodities were being dealt with, could not claim
right of privacy.
Ms. Azhagammal
is a beneficiary and consumer of the products sold to the public on a State
subsidy. Therefore, as a citizen as well as a beneficiary, she is entitled to
seek the relevant information, he ruled.
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