TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Hyderabad: The AP State Wakf Board has come under fire from RTI activists for ignoring queries requesting information on its properties. The board does not disclose requisite information even after long delays and gets away with it as the Information Commission goes easy on them, the activists alleged on Friday.A case in point is an RTI application that was filed by a city-based activist on August 17, 2010, requesting information through 16 questions on number of wakf properties in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, the number of tenants the board has, the revenue generation and its use, selection of tenants, procedure for fixing rents, amount due to the board, and other issues related to the protection and maintenance of wakf properties.
The board turned down the request replying that the information sought cannot be furnished under RTI Act. Even after appealing to the first appellant authority in the board, the information was not provided. After the applicant moved the commission and after two hearings, the board in October last furnished replies to a few questions while the others were ignored stating that information has to be gathered. But it failed to give a count of the number of buildings under its possession as demanded by the applicant.
In November last week, the board had furnished replies to two more questions pertaining to annual income-expenditure on its buildings and the maintenance costs on them. However, the board in its recent reply stated that the count of the number of buildings is not with the accounts section but may be available with other sections.
Activists working for protection of wakf properties allege that the board does not disclose updated information even if the petitioner appeals to the commission. “The information provided is often outdated and is not complete besides the delay in furnishing information even if it goes for hearing in the commission. If the commission is strict with the board, the board will become more responsive to RTI queries,” said an activist.
The board made its displeasure about RTI activists clear when it passed a resolution in 2010 baring entry to a few individuals who were constantly seeking information under the Act.
(Above Report Has Been Published on Page No 4 of Times Of India Hyderabad on 8 December 2012)
(Above Report Has Been Published on Page No 2 of Roznama Rashtriya Hyderabad on 8 December 2012)
