60% ministers from state have not submitted asset details: RTI query
Showing scant regard to chief minister's directive, almost 60% ministers from Maharashtra have still not submitted the details of their assets. CM Prithviraj Chavan had asked the ministers to submit the asset details within 2 months of taking charge.
Showing scant regard to chief minister's directive, almost 60% ministers from Maharashtra have still not submitted the details of their assets. CM Prithviraj Chavan had asked the ministers to submit the asset details within 2 months of taking charge.
In the office for over a year now, only 40% of the CM's council of ministers has submitted the details. Chavan submitted the details of his assets to the governor in the beginning of the year. Till last month, senior ministers such as Narayan Rane, RR Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Patangrao Kadam, Harshvardhan Patil and Jayant Patil along with eight junior ministers had not submitted the details.
The information was obtained in response to a right to information (RTI) query filed by social activist Anil Galgali. On seeking similar information in December last year, Galgali was informed that none of the ministers had submitted asset details between 1995 and 2010. Consequently, Chavan had asked his ministers to comply with the code of conduct framed by the Centre for Union ministers.
"It is highly irresponsible on part of the ministers to not act on the CM's directive. The details of the assets should be uploaded on the government website," said Galgali.
The state government, however, did not elaborate on the asset details. "Such details will be given [under RTI] only when officers are convinced that the information is required for public interest," KG Rahate, information officer, general administration department, stated in the reply.
Despite several attempts, ministers remained unavailable for comment citing that they are busy with the ongoing winter session of the state legislature.