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A week after former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said that state information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwads order banning disclosure of layout plans of all public and private buildings under the Right to Information Act should be withdrawn,the latter said he would consider the same upon receipt of a formal complaint from Gandhi.
Gandhi,along with other RTI activists such as Bhaskar Prabhu,had asked Gaikwad to withdraw his September 26 order,which said public authorities that sanction building plans are not liable to reveal these under the RTI. Gaikwads order cited security concerns in case of public buildings. Gandhi,had said that the commission had created a class of exemption that is not authorised by the law.
On November 22,a new order was issued by Gaikwad to the urban development department,where he clarified that In respect of any building plan of public or private buildings,(it) be furnished to the information seeker forthwith by public authorities dealing with sanction of building plans. According to the new order the internal layout of the rooms in a building and interiors and internal detailing are not to be provided.
Gandhi said the RTI activists are opposed to the blanket ban on providing layout plans. We had a positive meeting where we explained our stand. His point of view of the security concern in case of public buildings is valid. But we want to work out a middle path where the decision to provide information is taken on a case-to-case basis instead of bringing in a blanket ban, said Gandhi.
Gandhi added that Gaikwad agreed for changes to be incorporated to the order once a formal complaint is received by him in this regard.
mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
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