Govt issues redrafted circular on Indian Citizenship
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 30 October 2013 19:18 ISTGoa government today issued a redrafted circular, making it mandatory under Right to Information Act that the applicant is Indian “citizen”, after withdrawing the old circular to swear an affidavit in this regard every time.
The circular, issued by Information Director Swapnil Naik, stated that the applicant needs to mention in the letter that he/she is ‘citizen of India.’
The Public Information Officer (PIO) will ask for an evidence regarding citizenship, only if there is a doubt.
The circular also clarified that this provision “shall not be used as a means to deny information or cause inconvenience to the applicants seeking information.”
“We require this provision in Goa since there are many foreign tourists asking for information under RTI while many Goans have also opted for Portuguese citizenship”, said chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
In case the information is delayed beyond 30 days by taking advantage of this circular, Parrikar said the applicant could very well make an appeal, as prescribed by the Right to Information Act.
The earlier circular of 4 October, which made it mandatory to attach an affidavit to be sworn in that the applicant is Indian Citizen, was withdrawn after RTI activists strongly protested against it.
“We are not doing anything illegal. It is the requirement of the law”, said Parrikar.
The circular underlines right in the beginning Section 3 of the RTI Act, which states that “all citizens” shall have the Right to Information.
“If the APIO/PIO is still having some doubts, he could ask for copy of the passport or EPIC card or any other official document including a sworn Affidavit to his satisfaction to comply with the above statutory requirement”, states the circular.
The circular is also attached with a model application format, as follows:
Place: __________
Date: ___________
From:
Full name of the Applicant: __________________________________
Postal Address of Applicant: _________________________________
Contact Phone No, if any: __________; e-mail, if any: _______________
To,
The State Public Information Officer/Asst. Public Information Officer.
Name of Office/Department: __________________________________
Sub: Information under RTI Act, 2005.
Sir/Madam,
I, _____________ the undersigned hereby requires the following particulars of information.
a. Subject matter:
b. The period to which the information relates:
c. Information Description
i. ________________________________________________
ii. ________________________________________________
iii. ________________________________________________
II. In case the subject matter/any of the information is held by/related to another public authority, you are requested to transfer the application or such part of it as may be appropriate to that other public authority with an intimation to the undersigned(Section 6(3) of RTI Act.).
III. Further, I declare that I am a ‘Citizen’ of India and I am asking the information as ‘Citizen’.
IV. Enclosed: `10/- by way of cash/DD/Bankers Cheque/ affixing of Court fees stamps.
OR
Photocopy of BPL Ration Card in case of BPL applicant (the application fee is exempted).
Signature/Thumb Impression of the applicant.
(Name):
When election is near every politician and ministers
promise and adopt manifesto, but those manifesto is empty
once is done place for garbage. People must bear in mind
do not trust those goons and ministers.5 years complete fill
their valet no matter how and 5 years term again. Goa
and India no 1 nation full of corruption and bribe. Once you
join in politics you are reach specially congress and next
BJP, Defeat these parties and elect new party who kills
corruption and bribe. I wonder how these politicians
and ministers are so rich within a short period, they
grabbed public money and property. Now every one start
new episode like Dabolim / Mopa, citizenship and so
on. Where have you been all this time you remember
now when you need vote kick them out.