Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Tribune Chandigarh : Class VI girl flummoxes Centre with her RTI query :Wants copy of order declaring Gandhiji ‘Father of Nation’

Class VI girl flummoxes Centre with her RTI query
Wants copy of order declaring Gandhiji 'Father of Nation'
Shahira Naim/TNS

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120403/nation.htm#9

Lucknow, April 2
A simple query by a Lucknow class IV student Aishwarya Parashar
regarding Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi has flummoxed enough the
Central Government to invite her to "search among the public records"
for the information desired by her.

Through an RTI application addressed to the Prime Minister's office
dated February 13, 2012, she had sought a photocopy of the order
declaring Mahatma Gandhi as the "Father of the Nation".

She has received a letter dated March 26, 2012, (F.No 63 (2)-12/2012 R
IV-RTI) from the National Archives signed by Assistant Director
Archives & CPO Jayaprabha Ravindran.

The letter says: "As per search among the public records in the
National Archives of India, there are no specific documents on the
information being sought by you. It may be, however, conveyed that the
National Archives of India has a large number of public records
related to Mahatma Gandhi. As per guidelines laid down by the DoPT,
the duty of the CPIO is only to make available the records for
consultation and not undertake any research on behalf of the
applicant."

The letter further invites 12-year-old Aishwarya to "visit the
department to undertake a detailed search among the public records and
library material for the desired information. The official assured
Aishwarya of all facilities as per rules to facilitate her research
work.

According to Aishwarya, the question cropped up in her mind during her
history period. However, neither her history teacher nor her parents
could answer the query.

Her search on the Internet also proved futile. It is then that her RTI
activist mother inspired her to file an RTI query.

Disappointed with the reply of the National Archives, she is now
planning to write to the President and the Prime Minister to issue an
order declaring Mahatma Gandhi as the "Father of the Nation".

the quest

* Aishwarya (12) has sought a photocopy of the order declaring Mahatma
Gandhi the "Father of the Nation"

* The National Archives has informed her that there are no specific
documents on the information being sought by her

* The authorities have invited her to visit the department to
undertake a detailed search among the public records and library
material for the desired information

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120403/nation.htm#9

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