The Central Act had its first tryst with confusion when an applicant approached New India Assurance Co Ltd for information. Online Exclusive
MUMBAI: The Right to Information Act 2005 has got off to a flying start in Mumbai. The Central Act, which replaced the State Act on October 12, had its first tryst with confusion on Wednesday when an applicant approached New India Assurance Co Ltd for information.
When Kewal Semlani sent a letter seeking information on third party administrators to the company's headquarters at Flora Fountain, his representative Ganpat Shelar was asked by a company official why he had not pasted a court fee stamp of Rs 10 as an application fee.
Shelar pointed out that he would pay the amount in cash, as unlike the Maharashtra Act, the Central Act did not permit a court fee stamp. But the official returned the application.
Semlani then spoke to N K Singh, the central public information officer appointed for the company under the Act.
Singh reportedly told him that the money would have to be paid by a banker's cheque or a pay order as the accounts department was not ready to accept cash for Right to Information applications.
According to the Act, the application fee has to be paid in cash or by banker's cheque or pay order.
``I was shocked to see that a Central government company, which had been given 100 days to prepare for the Act, had not make any arrangements to issue cash receipts for it,'' Semlani said.
Semlani says Singh objected to the five questions in the applications. ``He said I cannot ask too many questions in an application.''
Singh told DNA, ``We have not yet formalised the arrangement for accepting cash but we're not refusing to receive applications.''
On the number of questions an application should contain, he said the Act was not very clear.
``Since the Act is new, some issues will need to be clarified. We are awaiting further instructions.''
Eventually, the application was accepted but with a mere acknowledgment and without a cash receipt.
The Central Act will put minor hurdles along the way, Semlani fears.
``Getting a pay order or a banker's cheque for Rs 10 is ridiculous. Applicants will have to pay cash and in most Central government offices, they will have to run around to pay the amount.''
In state government offices, a court fee stamp is accepted.
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