RTI application unanswered for larger share
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 22 2019: Even as an application was filed to the authority concerned under the Right to Information Act seeking details of the Rs 25 crore spent in organising the 105th India Science Congress at Manipur University when AP Pandey was the Vice Chancellor, explanation has been furnished only for Rs 58,85,176 while the details of the remaining amount remain unanswered till date.

With regard to the five-day science congress which was held from March 16 to March 20, 2018, RTI activist Kambam Satyajit asked 12 questions to Manipur University's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO).

The RTI activist was seeking details of the amount spent on sound, light, catering, stalls, stages, decorations, publicity and advertisement, press and media, transportation, lodging/accommodation, invitations and cultural troupes as well as utilisation certificates.

After 20 months of filing the RTI application, Satyajit received an answer only yesterday and the answer is restricted to catering and lodging/accommodation only, according to a press release issued by the RTI activist.

The answer says that Rs 5,07,231 was paid to Babina Health Care and Hospitality Pvt Ltd for catering service and Rs 53,77,945 to M/S Gazelle Caterers, Faridabad for arranging accommodation.

Central Information Commission's Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna held a hearing in the form of video conference at the NIC video conferencing hall, Imphal East at 11.40 am today.

RTI applicant K Satyajit and three staff of MU including CPIO T Shantikumar took part in the video conference.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction on receiving answers for only two questions after waiting for 20 months, Satyajit urged the Central Information Commissioner to issue directives to the effect that answers for all the remaining questions are furnished at the earliest.

As the Central Information Commissioner asked the MU authority when would they furnish answers for the remaining questions, the CPIO replied that the remaining questions would be answered within December 2019.Notably, the account given by the MU authority so far does not reach even Rs one crore even though a total of Rs 25 crore was spent in organising the science congress.

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