MUMBAI, January 30, 2015
In
view of a recent Central Government circular seeking people's views on
inclusion of postal stamps for paying RTI fees, activists have demanded
that such stamps should bear the face of legendary cartoonist R K Laxman
who passed away this week.
"There
should be separate RTI stamps issued by the postal department, to
facilitate payment of RTI fees," Subhash Chandra Agarwal, noted RTI
activist who first proposed the idea before the Chief Information
Commission, told The Hindu.
"It
is a lovely idea to have R K Laxman's face on those stamps. It will be a
nation's homage to somebody who took the common man's issues to a new
height. Mr. Laxman turned the common man into a hero," former Chief
Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi said.
Mr.
Subhash Chandra said there were many parallels between the common man
and the RTI Act. "The RTI Act is meant for the common man and R K
Laxman's cartoons raised the voice of the common man," he said.
Separate RTI stamps
A
few activists from western Maharashtra led by Vihar Durve recently
wrote to the Department of Personnel and Training and the Prime Minister
seeking issuance of separate RTI stamps in the name of Mr. Laxman who
passed away this week.
At
present, people filing RTI queries can make payment by four modes --
IPO, Demand Draft, Bankers Cheque and Cash against receipt. But the
Central Information Commission, in its recent order passed last month,
again recommended the use of ordinary postal stamps for paying RTI fees.
But
the government apprehends that use of ordinary postal stamps may lead
to many problems including accounting error for the postal department,
misuse of ordinary stamps.
According
to a circular issued by the Department of Personnel and Training on
January 14, the government has formed a committee to look into these
issues and to decide if postal stamps should be introduced as RTI fees.
The circular seeks suggestions from the citizens.
The
RTI activists have suggested that the government (postal department)
issue separate RTI stamps for the purpose. "Firstly, it will be very
easy for the citizens as these stamps will be freely available at all
post offices," Mr Gandhi said.
"Also,
these will be the most economical modes of paying RTI fees. If
beautiful RTI stamps are issued, they will propagate the use of RTI. The
people will be convenienced as many RTI petitioners face quite a few
hurdles in paying fees," Mr Subhash Chandra said.
Difficulty
But
Mr Gandhi pointed out a practical difficulty in implementing the
measure. "At present, the revenue from the RTI fees goes to the States.
But if postal stamps are introduced, the revenue will go to the Central
government. Though Rs 10 crore annual revenue isn't much, the Centre
will still have to convince all the States and get them on-board to
implement this step," he said.
