No idea: BMC stuns activists with reply over inspection GR

Almost a month after the state government came out with a resolution (GR) that all offices should allow inspection, the BMC has said it is yet to receive it to even act on it.

Clarence Pinto, who had filed an RTI plea seeking information about the implementation of the GR at the office of the municipal commissioner, said he was surprised by the apathetic response.

"I had sought details about how it is being implemented in BMC. I was surprised to know they have not even received it. Such GRs are pointless if they do not even come to the ground level for implementation," said Pinto.

The state government had come under criticism when it appointed a committee to study how such inspection has worked in Pune.

Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner, said: "The GR is supposed to be read online. It is not a wedding invitation that is personally sent to everyone. This is a GR which is about three weeks old. If they do not know about it they have no interest in upholding laws and their duties. It speaks very poorly of them."

"Since all things have been forwarded to all, it is surprising the ward and central offices are saying this circular is not there. This shows that despite digitisation, they do not want to implement RTI," said activist Bhaskar Prabhu.