CIC tells BMC, state to put info sought by activist online

MUMBAI: State chief information commissioner (CIC) Ratnakar Gaikwad on Monday ordered the civic chief and additional chief secretary, general administration department

MUMBAI: State chief information commissioner (CIC) Ratnakar Gaikwad on Monday ordered the civic chief and additional chief secretary, general administration department (GAD) to review the applications filed by RTI activist Bhupendra Vira with various public authorities in the state in the past year and put up the information online before October 31.

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Vira, an anti-encroachment activist who had managed to procure demolition orders from the BMC in connection with illegal structures, was murdered at his home in Kalina on Saturday night. Former corporator Razzak Khan and his son have been arrested in connection with the murder. The chief information commissioner has ordered the chief secretary of the state, chief secretary (home) and Mumbai police commissioner to conduct a thorough probe into the murder.

The order was issued while acting on a complaint filed by RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi to make the issue urgent to put an end to violence against RTI activists. The order stated it is the duty of the government and public authorities to ensure full protection and safety of RTI activists . It is important to bring in transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities, states the order.