It was 16.02.2022 , On this day I went to District Primary education office ( DPO) Ahmadabad. It was Saturday and I had no office work so I chose to visit on that day. I had visited the office regarding the Right to Information ( RTI) related matter. As per the law, Public information officers are supposed to provide information within 30 days of the submission of the RTI. I submitted an RTI on the date 19.01.2022 to the DPO office. They are supposed to provide the information by 18.02.2022.

As I mentioned above, I have submitted RTI on 19.01.2022 , I have not received any reply after 28 days of the submission of application. So I went to the DPO office on 16.02.2022 to just remind them about the upcoming expiry date to reply. I am not under any obligation to remind them about the time limit. But As it was off day from work, I went to the DPO office to remind them.

But As We all experience that in India a Babu have enormous arrogance of their chair. Mr. X who is Just inward clerk refused to accept my letter of reminder to reply of the RTI application. Me X Said that, there is no provision in RTI act about such a reminder letter. I argued that, Though there is no provision in RTI act but there is ample provision in general administrative rule that inward clerks can not refuse any letter. There was a heated argument but I lost against the power of the chair.

Then Table turned around.

That In ward clerk might get a promotion and become head clerk. He is now a Public information officer ( PIO). I was not aware of these developments. Then A day 13.04.2022 came...

( In RTI , When PIO do not provide satisfactory information within time of 30 days, An applicant can file appeal to the senior officer called first appellate authority ( FAA). FAA holds hearing and summon both Applicant and PIO to put their arguments)

On 13th April, FAA organized the hearing of the RTI. I entered the cabin. To my surprise Mr.X was also in the cabin. Earlier a lady officer was PIO in my RTI. But now she has been transferred and Mr. X replaced her. FAA asked Mr.X about the reason for his failure to provide information in time period of the 30 days. Mr. X have no explanation so he kept mum. But I have ample of reasons so put forwards to fix the accountability ( and also arrogance) of the Mr. X. So I literally Blitz the arguments. FAA have scolded the PIO not just orally but also promised to do so in written letter.

The hearing went for some 8-10 minutes. In this whole time period, Mr.X spoke just about 2-3 lines and that also in a lower and apologist voice.

Writing about this incident I do not want to look arrogant. Arrogance is too costly for me to afford, especially after learning a lesson from this episode. From this blog post, I just want to convey a message that, In this Kaliyug , one need not have to wait for the next life to get the fruit of karma. Lord Krishna has set a special mechanism for the Kaliyug to get instant justice just like 2 minute Noodles.