Vilas Baravkar suicide: Make public all info sought by Baravkar says SIC

Pune: Taking cognizance of RTI activist Vilas Baravkar's suicide and considering public interests, State Information Commission (SIC) has asked Pune district collector, Director General of Police (DGP), Pune rural superintendent and Zilla Parishad authorities to put information on their websites which Barvakar had sought in last couple of years. Moreover, the commission has also decided to hear Baravkar's pending cases soon though, it was not in their immediate index.It is to be mentioned here that an RTI activist Baravkar had allegedly committed suicide at his residence on the morning of March 23. The Chakan police had recovered a suicide note written on Rs100 stamp paper. In his four-page suicide note, Baravkar had named some IPS officers and held them responsible for his drastic step.The SIC has issued a special notification signed by its commissioner Ravindra Jadhav. The notification has directed the concerned public information officers (PIO) to put necessary information wich was sought by the deceased, on their website immediately. "Baravkar has committed suicide alleging 'harassment' faced by him and his family. He had filed 47 appeals since 2010 with commission, out of which 25 appeals have been disposed off while 22 appeals are pending for hearing," the notification reads.Speaking to dna, SIC official said, "Though, Baravkar's hearings are not on immediate list. Still we have decided to take his hearing early. All his hearings will be heard immediately by the commission."However, RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar lamented SIC's move saying that the commission has not taken this matter seriously. "Instead of sending notification to the various departments, the commission should have asked concerned public information officers to provide the required information and put them on their website. So that people would have easily sought the information. But the commission did the either way that shows that they do not want to take any responsibility," Kumbhar said."Moreover, the concern department would give excuse in future saying that it is difficult for them to put information as their websites need to update and thereafter they can't do so. Ultimately, it will not help people." Kumbhar added.