The Right To Information Act has been achieved after a lot of struggle and it should not be diluted by putting forth unnecessary and pointless questions, Central Information Commissioner Madabhusi Sridhar Acharylu said here on Tuesday.
The Act should be used for the benefit of society and people, he said, and pointed out that corruption could be eliminated if everyone started raising questions, Dr. Sridhar said while participating in a seminar on RTI Act, organised by the AP Public Forum, Help to Help Foundation, and ‘Janam’ magazine.
Government machinery was like an elephant and it should be pricked with an “ankusam,” he said, and wanted direct questions asked in the petitions since then only the government would react.
He regretted that people generally were turning a blind eye to corruption. People could at least threaten the corrupt by using the RTI Act.
Coordinator of AP Public Forum Kandregula Venkata Ramana presided. Director of GITAM School of Law Y. Satyanarayana, Deputy Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs E. Ravi Kiran, and chairman of Help to Help Foundation B.M. Naidu spoke.
‘Private hospitals come under Act’
At a meeting held on ‘RTI Act and medical profession’ at Andhra Medical College, Dr. Sridhar said the private nursing homes and hospitals come under the Act and other laws since they had received government help while being established.
‘Cannot refuse reports’
They cannot refuse to give reports of tests and case sheets to patients and this should be done within 72 hours after a petition was filed by the patient or his or her attendant. AMC Principal S.V. Kumar presided. KGH Superintendent M. Madhusudhana Babu, vice-principals — G.V. Reddy and N. Subba Rao, Mr. Venkata Ramana participated along with several doctors.
