School bullies father after RTI plea

Ashok Rathod, a resident of Kakrej, Banaskantha, sought information under Right to Information Act (RTI) from authorities of a school, where his two daughters were studying, regarding practice of mandatory donation. But according to him, the authorities have threatened him that he would be killed and they have also rusticated the girls and issued their school living certificates.  

As per claim made by Rathod, the school authorities asked him to pay Rs1,600 additionally as a donation. In turn, he questioned the legitimacy of such kind of donation, but he was told that he had to pay Rs800 donation per student. So he filed an RTI application enquiring about the total amount of donation collected by the authorities.

He says, “On receiving RTI application, trusty of the school Pratap Hemraj Thakkar and Principal threatened him to kill.” He has written a letter in this regard to state chief minister Narendra Modi and also filled an FIR in the police station. He has also made a complaint to the district education officer (DEO), Banaskantha. He said that he had not received any positive response and has also contacted RTI Helpline. On Helpline’s advice Rathod has filed an appeal to the state RTI commissioner.  “He has also sought police protection, but has not received any protection from the Police and so far,” said Pankati Jog of RTI Helpline.