Govt does not keep a tab on cab bills'

An RTI applicant was surprised to know that no records are maintained of expenses by government staff when it comes to use of taxis and cabs. The General Administration Department (GAD) of the state government in reply to an RTI applicant said that such information is not collated and kept with the government.

Sanjay Shirodkar, RTI applicant, had sought details of list of books available, stored, preserved in GAD library, list of newspapers and periodicals provided to officers, and amount spent on taxi/cab journeys of officers and those paid for private vehicles by GAD.

The public information officer (PIO) of the GAD of state government stated that they do not keep such details.

Shirodkar said, "In most of the cases they have said that they do not have such records or copy of such bills. The chief minister often heads this department and how can such a department not even have an office copy? As far as public record Act is concerned, they should be having such details. They should have kept details because they are giving from tax payer's money. They should keep a record of it."