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Press Note on assault of Ms Deepti Ghosal, RTI Activist and Student of Mira Road

We urged both Shri Ratnakar Gaikwad, Chief Information Commissioner,  Maharashtra and Shri Julio Rebeiro, former Mumbai Police Commissioner to intervene which they have done with the State Government and the Police.
 
We also condemn the attitude of the Mira Road police who did not take appropriate action to prevent this assault and demand that the guilty police officials must be taken to task.
 
We demand that a thorough and fast investigation into the assault and immediate steps to arrest those responsible for this attack failing which civil society groups will  demonstrate  outside the said Police Station .
 
We requested  Shri Ratnakar Gaikwad , State Chief Information Commissioner who has taken up this matter with the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra , Shri J.K. Bantia.

Ratnakar Gaikwad       26/9/2013

Chief Information Commissioner,
Maharashtra

Dear Shri Banthia,

Of late,there has been sharp increase in number of assaults on RTI activists. The recent assault on Ms Deepti Ghosal, RTI Activist and  Student  of Mira Road is a cause for serious concern. As you are aware, the effective implementation of RTI Act depends among other things on giving adequate protection to whistle blowers/ RTI activists who expose the vested interests and corruption in Public Authorities. Unfortunately, Govt has so far not taken effective and adequate steps in the matter.

I would like to bring to your notice , a resolution passed in the meeting of the Central Information Commission held on 13.9.2011 chaired by the then Chief Information Commissioner, Shri Satyananda Mishra

"The Central Information Commission expresses regret and takes note of the reported killings of and assault on the RTI users across the country. The Commission underlines the need to take urgent steps by the respective Governments for the safety and protection of the RTI users. The Commission strongly believes that it is the duty and responsibility of the respective Governments to safeguard the life and liberty of the RTI users for which purpose they should invoke the relevant penal provisions for the prevention and detection of such heinous crimes.".....

This commission therefore requests the state govt to take urgent steps in the matter by issuing suitable instructions to Director General of Police, Maharashtra as well as to all Commissioners of Police to take proactive and effective steps to give protection to RTI Activists in the state.

Regards,
Ratnakar Gaikwad
Chief Information Commissioner,
Maharashtra
 
In addition,  Shri Julio Rebeiro, the former Police Commissioner of Mumbai and Trustee of PCGT has also taken up the matter with the Supdt of Police with a copy to Spl.IGP - Law and Order Shri Deven Bharti, Mumbai.