19 short listed from 1130 nominations under National RTI Award 2009

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19 short listed from 1130 nominations under National RTI Award 2009

26 November 2009 No Comment

By Mandeep Puri ,Chandigarh : The Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF) in association with various other organizations is organizing a programme for National RTI Award 2009 for the commendable work under the Right to Information Act 2005.

In regard o this, a number of nominations have been received by the foundation and out of these 1130 nominations, 19 have been short listed as finalists. Anurag Kohli, Chairman, Intellectual Cell and Vice President CTYC and Dr. I.D. Singh president reader and writer society India said that they had gone through the story of 19 short listed as well as Jaspal Singh, RTI crusader of Chandigarh nominated for RTI award 2009 and found that although the work done by all the nominated persons is good but the work done by Sh Jaspal Singh is far better and appreciating.
It is for this reason that Citizen’s Forum on Human Rights honored Jaspal Singh in presence of Minakshi Anand Chaudhary (Retd. IAS),State Information Commissioner, Haryana and other dignitaries.

Anurag Kohli, Chairman, Intellectual Cell and Vice President CTYC & Congress (I) Chandigarh leader Shobha Sharma said that Jaspal Singh is the most suitable candidate for the National RTI award 2009 among all the nominees.
Puja Sharma president Anti Corruption Society Haryana Unit , Archana Bajwa and Anurag Kohli, Chairman, Intellectual Cell and Vice President CTYC said that it is due to Jaspal Singh that more than one lakh voters of Chandigarh got their names in the electoral list and were able to vote in the recent parliamentary elections. This was done when Jaspal Singh sought information under RTI from the Chief Electoral Officer Chandigarh and informed the deprived voters regarding their illegal deletion through newspaper by spending huge amount. Due to this crores of voters were also benefited because after a penalty of Rs 1 Lakh the defaulter agency must have started performing their duties lawfully in areas other than Chandigarh, where this agency was working.
In addition to this Jaspal Singh also has worked towards reforming of the working of the Chief Election Commissioner of India and State Election Commissions as a claim of Rs. 18 lakh has been admitted in National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for their irregularities. Earlier millions of election contestants suffered due to the negligence of the election commissions but they could not do anything. After the decision of this first historical case of India and the Consumer Act 1986 the adversely affected contestants may take the help of Consumer Commission and compensation to the tune of many crores could be asked for.
Anurag Kohli, Chairman, Intellectual Cell and Vice President CTYC, specifically told that though the performance of other nominees for RTI award had impact in their areas but the work done by Jaspal Singh had impacted people all over India by strengthening the democracy. Solution of all the problems citizens of India lies in mature democracy.
Out of 19 finalists most of the nominees performed with the help of courts, sting operations or agitations but Sh Jaspal Singh exclusively made use of the RTI Act 2005. One nominee and his organization were declared extremist by the Government agencies but till date they failed to get it rectified. Contrary to this Jaspal Singh forced such officers not only to realize but also to apologize for their mistakes.