RTI activist alleges threat from GLADA info official by Raakhi Jagga

A Right To Information (RTI) activist has alleged that the assistant public information officer of the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), Shiv Gupta had threatened him following which he had to be hospitalised due to high blood pressure. The activist, Arvind Sharma had sought information regarding station leave of officers. Sharma has submitted a complaint in this regard at the Model town police station, but no action has been taken so far. The applicant claims to have sought the information through post and had also sent a self addressed envelope. “ The APIO, however, called and threatened to eliminate me. My concern is about the public working because a number of outstation employees come late and leave early from the offices and hence public dealing is being affected,” Sharma said.

The RTI activists’ cell has demanded the registration of a FIR against the the information officer. “ This is really a serious matter that now people seeking RTI information are being threatened. It is a first of its kind case in Ludhiana and we have informed the state information commission,” said Rohit Sabharwal, president of RTI activist cell.

Sources say the assistant information officer also comes from Chandigarh to report at the Ludhiana office.

The Additional Commissioner Administrator of GLADA, Jaswant Singh, however, defended his colleague.

“Gupta had called Sharma to take his information, but the latter said he wants it by post and our APIO agreed to the same. Nothing else happened, so I am not aware of any threat,” Jaswinder said.

Sharma in reply to Dr Singh’s comments said, “When I had sent a self addressed envelope, there is no question of calling me and asking whether I can come and take information”