Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil informed the Legislative Assembly that 26 Right to Information (RTI) activists have been blacklisted for “misusing the Act”.
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BJP MLAs V. Sunil Kumar, and S. Suresh Kumar, and, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal claimed that many RTI activists had been misusing the Act and targeting government officials, contractors and engineers for personal gain. Mr. Sunil Kumar maintained that activists had not been allowing the public works to be completed, seeking one or the other information related to development work.
Mr. Yatnal said activists have been “blackmailing” officials and elected representatives and delaying public works. Claiming that RTI activists had been the root cause of corruption, he demanded a probe into disproportionate sources of income and assets owned by them.
In a reply to K. Manantesh Shivanand (Congress) during the question hour on Tuesday, Mr. Patil said the government sacked State Information Commissioner Ravindra Gurunath Dhakappa, posted in the Kalaburagi Bench, after he was arrested by the Lokayukta Police as he allegedly received ₹1 lakh bribe through an online transfer for delivering a favourable order to an applicant.
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Mr. Suresh Kumar said the Act was a powerful weapon for ensuring transparency in administration, but the activists have been “misusing it and harassing officials” seeking building plans and other documents.
