Mayor scares BMP officials into silence

Mayor scares BMP officials into silence
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: It has been 90 days since the Right to Information Act came into force in the country and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is working hard to find ways to shroud vital information from public scrutiny.

To make matters worse, the BMP officials are being told by the Mayor not to talk to the media.

“We are being pulled up by the Mayor if we are quoted in the media on technical issues regarding infrastructure and city governance. Officials are told to give information and opinions only to the Mayor’s office,” said a bureaucrat.

The most glaring example of information blockage is happening around asset declaration by councillors. Applications under RTI seeking information on councillors’ assets are being referred to the BMP legal cell, and many feel this is a ploy to delay giving out information.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum defends the move saying that since it is a matter concerning the provisions of the KMC Act, disclosure of information on the councillor’s assets needs legal opinion.

On the other hand the BMP has not sent copies of asset declarations to Raj Bhavan though the Governor’s office had asked for them.

Raj Bhavan had given a two-week ultimatum to the BMP in November last year to send the details of asset declarations and the BMP just sent a letter saying that all councillors had submitted declarations. The civic body did not report whether the declarations were in order.

Ramesh Ramanathan of Janaagraha feels the civic body should take up responsibility for transparency. “The public authority must show voluntary interest in keeping its books open,” he said.

Director of Public Affairs Centre A Ravindra said the KMC Act was very clear on asset declarations.

“The declarations are public records and must be shared with the public. Even if they delay or deny rightful applications, the RTI has punitive measures,” he said.

BMP Commissioner K Jothiramalingam said asset records can be shared with the public. “The RTI Act also says that these records may be given to applicants,” he said.