Where do Citizens go for their Grievances?

M.V.Ruparelia, A 503 Rashmi Utsav, Near Jangid Estate & Vijay Park, Mira Road (East)-401107-

Dist. Thane, Maharashtra.                               M. 09821732855. E/Mail: mvrup@yahoo.co.in

To                                                                                                  Date: 8-4-11

Shri  V.C. Rastogiji, Secrtary to Governor of Maharashtra & A.A.,

Raj Bhavan, Maharashtra State Government, Malbar Hill, Mumbai-400035.

Respected Sir,

Sub: Appeal dt 3-2-11 for Mercy Petition from 10 lakh Citizens of Mira Road-Bhayander Area of MMRDA for relief from Political bosses of Unions of Auto-Rickshaws.

Ref: Your Speaking Order no. kra.ras/Mahiti cha Adhikar/2010/993/R-20 dt 31-3-11 received on 5-4-11.

E/Mail was sent on 23-3-11 for not being able to attend the Hearing. This may kindly be linked.

Information requested for the following items is not given by PIO or A.A. ^{Right to Information Act, 2005 and various directives issued by Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & P. clearly lay down the Guide Lines and Instructions to be followed by A.A. also. Para 3 of their Memorandum no. 1/3/2008-IR dt 25-4-08 reads as under:-}

^{What is Information}

^{3. Information is any material in any form. It includes records, documents,}

^{memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, data material held in any electronic form. It also includes information relating to any private body which can be accessed by the public authority under any law for the time being in force.}

^{Para 5 of the same Memorandum dt 25-4-08 reads as under:-}

^{5. The Act gives the citizens a right to information at par with the Members of Parliament and the Members of State Legislatures. According to the Act, the information which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature, shall not be denied to any person.}

^{Para 3 of their Memorandum no.10/23/2007-IR dt 9-7-07 reads as under:-}

^{3. Deciding appeals under the RTI Act is a quasi-judicial function. It is, therefore, necessary that the appellate authority should see to it that the justice is not only done but it should also appear to have been done. In order to do s  ,the order passed by the appellate authority should be a speaking order giving justification for the decision arrived at.}

i)             Item i) of Application:   It has been stated in reply that my representation was forwarded to Home Ministry.  No information is given about whether it was put up to Governor or up to what level , it was put up and all notings and orders/remarks of various officials may be sent. It may please be advised, when reply will be sent. Simply forwarding and not pursuing & getting it replied does not serve purpose of having sent a Petition to The Hon Governor, as 100 letters to various authorities including Home Ministry has not brought any result and large number of citizens continue to suffer. Under your office letter dt 25-11-10, you had asked Home Department to send Government`s Report in the matter for being placed before the Governor.  Home Department has perhaps, not given any Report even after almost 4 months to the Highest Authority of the State nor to me. Kindly, reperuse my letter dt  12-11-10 to Hon. Governor for pitiable plight of Citizens and getting no relief  from any authority right up to Chief Minister inspite of almost 100 letters! If the Highest Authority of the State also can not get any relief to Citizens, where can citizens go for their grievances?

ii)          Item ii) of Application: Copies of Instructions /Procedure Office Orders etc indicating how representations to Governor are to be dealt with and disposed off and whether all representations are required to be dealt with promptly, action taken and the representist replied within a reasonable time. If any target is fixed for such dealing may also be given. This has not been given. Copies of Circulars/Instructions/Procedure that grievances  sent through Petitions to Governor are only required to be forwarded and not got remedied have been requested and may please be given.

Apart from the information under RTI as above, our request to you as Secretary to the Highest Authority of the State is to kindly, take special steps by going out of way to unhelpful procedure & redtapesim etc and get us some relief from unjustified exorbitant charges and changing rickshaws at Dahisar Checknaka by walking a long distance with luggage.

With regards,

Yours Sincerely,

(M.V.Ruparelia)