It just got that much tougher to get information on the Reliance Infrastructure-led Mumbai Metro One Private Ltd's (MMOPL) Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line.
A recent order of the State Information Commission (SIC), citing a Supreme Court (SC) order, has held that the public authority - in this case, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) - is not responsible to furnish information to the RTI applicant if the information asked is not available with the authority.
This correspondent had sought information from MMRDA on trials and tests done for Research Design and Standards Organisation, Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety and Railway Board's approval to begin revenue operations of Mumbai Metro.
MMRDA has a 26% stake in MMOPL. None of the information sought falls under classified category.
Hearing an appeal on Thursday, State CIC Ratnakar Gaikwad ruled that a public authority is not responsible to furnish information to the applicant if the information asked is not available with it .
Though MMOPL is not a public company and MMRDA holds only a 26% stake in it, the former can be treated as public authority and it falls within the purview of RTI Act (See Shailesh Gandhi article, Page 2). In fact, the State Information Commission itself had classified Reliance Infrastructure as a public utility in another case (see Page 2.)
As highlighted by dna in several reports, despite repeated reminders by MMRDA to MMOPL to share the required information, the latter has been refusing to do so.
This, in turn, means RTI applicants will be left empty-handed by MMRDA, citing lack of cooperation from MMOPL.
Similarly, another RTI application was made by activist Anil Galgali on September 19, asking for ridership and revenue figures and the number of shops that operate at Metro stations. Till date, he has not received any information, because the MMRDA itself does not possess it.
Shouldn't MMRDA possess records and documents crucial to the Mumbai Metro?
When RInfra led MMOPL was asked if it intends to voluntarily display basic information and public documents on websites for transparency, this was its reply: "We are following the applicable enactments regarding sharing of information. As a Concessionaire, we are providing all information as required under the Concession Agreement with MMRDA including revenue and ridership figures."
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