Former SC judge expresses concern over RTI activists being framed in false cases

Former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur sald counter FIRs are being lodged against RTI activists in Odisha who are at the receiving end of physical threats and violence

Published on: Sep 18, 2022, 11:45:17 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Expressing concern over the way the right to information (RTI) activists in Odisha were being harassed, former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur on Saturday said that counter FIRs are being lodged against RTI activists in the state who are at the receiving end of physical threats and violence while no action is being taken on the original FIRs of the activists.

Justice(retd) Madan B Lokur addressed a public hearing on ‘Attacks on RTI Users and Protection of Whistleblowers in Odisha’ in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. (ANI File Photo)

Addressing a public hearing on ‘Attacks on RTI Users and Protection of Whistleblowers in Odisha’ in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, justice(retd) Lokur said in several cases, police changed the serial number of the FIR lodging the counter FIR first while the original FIR of the RTI activist was listed after that.

“This is a matter of concern and manipulation by police needs to be checked. In some cases, molestation cases as well as FIR under SC/ST Atrocities Act are being lodged against the RTI activists which make it difficult for them to get bail for weeks together. In many cases, police are not even registering the FIRs by RTI activists which should have been a matter of right,” said the former SC judge after several RTI activists described about how attacks on them were increasing.

He suggested that the RTI activists who are facing false cases should get compensation and the State Legal Service Authority should offer legal help to such activists who have been framed after they filed RTI applications. “The RTI Act is being weakened as the activists are being made to run from pillar to post,” he said while expressing concern over how the State Human Rights Commission is closing complaints on attack on RTI activists without any action while the Lokayukta is not taking action against politicians and senior officials.

Noted activist Aruna Roy, who attended the hearing, said there need to be a nationwide campaign by RTI activists in each state and districts on such harassment. “The RTI activists are the people who are keeping the democracy alive by seeking replies on government functioning,” she said.

During the hearing RTI activists said 60-odd cases have been filed against them over the last 12 years by vested interests while 4 persons have been killed in the last couple of years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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