Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner (CIC) on Sunday speaking at a seminar asked RTI propagators to seek information that are important, of public interest and get information commissions to pass order that such information should be part of section 4 disclosure that talks about suo motu disclosure of information by public authorities.
 
Gandhi was talking at a seminar organised by NGO Tarun Mitra Mandal to celebrate 10 years of its propagating RTI through 10 of its centers in city and Thane. The seminary was held at Mysore auditorium in Matunga. 
 
Established on Gandhi Jayanti in 1968, Tarun Mitra Mandal started propagating RTI soon after its enactment in 2005. Until then, the Mandal was known for other charitable activities like like blood donation drives, eye donation where in it has collected more than 1,23,000 units of blood, and given eye banks 14,194 eye balls besides getting into skin donation drives and helping needy students. 
 
At present, its 10 centers are run by over 110 volunteers belonging to different professions like chartered accountants, doctors, businessmen, and those into service free of cost. They help citizens file over 10,000 RTI applications in which many have managed to get their tax returns, medical insurance, pensions, property documents and government work done. On Sunday it announced opening of another center in two months. 
 
Gandhi said, "I have filed a complaint for details of welfare funds to be put online by government. An order was given commission but that is still not up. I am not trying to follow that up with RTI applications. Alone one person cannot monitor. But if many people ask, such information will be available. It may take time for them to upload such information but it is important that information that could be of interest to citizens is given sup motu by public authorities. Such information citizens will be able to decide better as compared to details like salaries that are also to be given under suo motu disclosure. If authorities have not put up such information, then you should take up the issue and get commission to pass orders for its implementation." 
 
Gandhi also asked those gathered to use Act 21 of the state government that talks about disciplinary action on government servants. The Act is called Government Servants Regulation Of Transfers And Prevention Of Delay In Discharge Of Official Duties Act, 2005. "While under RTI, disciplinary action can only be recommended, in this act if a file is not cleared in 45 days, disciplinary action can be taken. Most officers fear taking one thinking that it will have long term repercussions on career of a person but it is a very stringent Act," said Gandhi.