Why is this government protecting the corrupt with such laws?
CBI cites exemption, refuses info on graft
NEW DELHI: The CBI has refused to make public information about disproportionate asset cases against government servants, including bureaucrats and ministers, after last week's exemption under RTI Act given by the government.
The Centre, through a notification issued on June 9, placed the agency in the organisations listed in the second schedule of Section 24 of the RTI Act which also comprises intelligence and security agencies.
"The government of India has placed the Central Bureau of Investigation at Serial Number 23 of the second schedule of the Right to Information Act. This Act is not applicable to the Central Bureau of Investigation," CBI joint director Prabodh Kumar told activist S C to Agrawal recently, while refusing him information.
Agrawal had filed four RTI applications three months before CBI got exemption, seeking details of corruption cases accusing officials and ministers of amassing disproportionate assets. The questions asked by him pertained to recoveries done by the agency from accused and fine slapped on corrupt officials on the orders of courts.
The Central Public Information Officer of the agency refused to provide information, saying it was "voluminous". In his appeal before the Central Information Commission, Agrawal pleaded that since his RTI petition and first appeal were filed before the date of notification exempting CBI, provisions of the said notification should not be applicable to his case. ...............++++
