Examples of success-oriented and failure-prone RTI applications

Example 1: TYPICAL SUCCESS-ORIENTED RTI APPLICATION

“Subject matter of RTI Application: All documents concerning XYZ works, materials, services and products supplied to your department.

Period of Information required: After 1 January 2007 till date

Particulars of information required: Please give signed and stamped copies of:

1. Circulars, GRs, reports, rules and guidelines concerning procurements of XYZ type of works, materials, services and products
2. Log books of activity, reports, correspondence, memos, official correspondence including file notings concerning procurement of XYZ
3. List of suppliers of XYZ, along with their contact details, capacities and capabilities
4. Contracts signed with suppliers of XYZ materials, services and products.
5. Tender notices, tendering terms & conditions, structural audit statements, inspection reports, quality control reports, pay orders, remarks etc.
   
   
6. Copies of attendance records and other documents showing who were the architects and engineers in charge of the project on the ground level and supervisory levels. Give copies of records with the department regarding the credentials, qualifications and working experience of each architect and engineer.

Please Note:

1. If the information requested is too voluminous, spread over too many files, and would disproportionately divert the resources of your organization, please intimate to me suitable dates and times for taking inspection of files, along with the contact numbers of the officers to contact for taking inspection.
2. If you need any clarifications, please call between 10 am and 10 pm on my mobile number, which is given above.”

Example 2: TYPICAL FAILURE-PRONE RTI APPLICATION

“Subject matter of RTI Application: Corrupt and unholy nexus between bureaucrats and major suppliers of XYZ works, materials, services and products. Conspiracy in your department to loot the public and defraud the taxpayer, causing loss to exchequer of Rs 420 crore, with payoffs going to the highest levels of the ministry. See attached newspaper cutting from The Times of India, Mumbai, May 22, 2010.

Particulars of information required: You are hereby required to furnish answers to the following questions:

1. What are the names and designations of the person/persons responsible for authorizing payments to crooked suppliers and contractors doing substandard work?

2. Who is responsible for loss of life and possible catastrophe resulting from structural failure and breakage of bridges built with XYZ products?

3. What are the particulars of all the accidents and casualties caused by the use of XYZ products and services since 2001? Give month-wise records and statistics.

4. Do you know that many of the architects employed by ABC Ltd, who is one of the main suppliers of XYZ to you, are blacklisted by their professional association? How many such blacklisted architects are working on your projects?

5. What is the provision and procedure for giving compensation to all the people who can be hurt by the faulty workmanship and bad-quality material? From whose pockets will the compensation come? The poor taxpayers? Or will be it deducted from the salaries of your overpaid and corrupt officers?

6. What are the procedures for conducting CBI enquiries and also taking disciplinary action against crooked officials in your organization, and also the “chor” minister who is in charge of the ministry?

Please note:

1. I am the President of the World Letter-Writer’s Federation, and retired as General Manager (Works) of HLL Foods division, Nashik. Also, I am a senior citizen aged 78, and my late brother Mr J Naidu was a member of the 8^th Finance Commission.

2. Copy forwarded to Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Pratibha Patil and Wajahat Habullah.”

Drafting RTI applications the wrong way increases the probability of PIO and appellate authorities brushing it aside by saying, “What is requested is not record or information as defined by RTI Act” Or “No such information exists” Or “This guy is a nutcase.” So, to get the information you want with the least resistance, avoid the above illustrated pitfalls.

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