Vigilance Bureau continues to deny information to RTI applicants

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau continues to deny information on vigilance inquiries against ministers and All India Service Office despite the announcement by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to the contrary.

The Chief Minister’s contention was that that it was an office circular issued by the Bureau that gave the impression that the Cabinet’s decision to exclude the Top Secret Section of the Bureau from the purview of information requests under RTI Act was aimed at protecting ministers, legislators and All India Service officers.

Accordingly, the Cabinet decided to withdraw the circular but not the notification issued on January 27, 2016. However, a request for information on quick verification of allegations against Ernakulam Collector over land acquisition for Kochi Metro was denied on April 18 citing the notification.

The application was made by S. Dhanaraj of Ernakulam. Besides the notification, the State Public Information Officer of the Bureau A. Sreekumari also cited Section 8(1)(h) of the Right To Information Act in denying him the information. The Section mandates that information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders need not be disclosed.

However, in this case, the Bureau had already completed the quick verification and submitted its report to the court.