Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 24: A team of human rights defenders met Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati and submitted a memorandum in connection with the safety of RTI activists.
The delegation, in its memorandum, urged Pati to take steps to open a special desk in the office of DG, Police for carrying out independent probe into allegations of murder or attack on RTI activists and provide them protection.The team also sought an amendment to the Orissa RTI Rules, 2005.
Citing the recent case of RTI activist G C Panda of Berhampur who was attacked by miscreants and died on the spot December 29 last year, the delegation demanded a high-level inquiry into the circumstances leading to his murder.
Pati was also appraised about anti-people provision of Orissa RTI Rules 2005 and urged to withdraw mandatory provision for submission of proof of citizenship at the time of filing RTI applications and also for abolishing the compulsory provision for using the Form-A that requires inter alia disclosure of several personal details like permanent address and name of father/spouse, informed State Convener of Orissa Soochana Adhikar Abhijan Pradip Pradhan.
