Guv’s office received no memo from DCs in 17 months: RTI

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, September 28

An RTI query has brought out that not a single memorandum reached the Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki’s office from April 1 last year to this August 30 — a period of 17 months.

Surender Ghai, Ambala-based RTI activist, said: “Everyday, several political parties, trade unions and people submit memorandums to Deputy Commissioners across the state for the Governor. Out of curiosity that how the memorandums are dealt with by the Governor and what directions are issued, I had filed an RTI query to the Governor’s office on August 30.”

“I had sought information about the number of memorandums forwarded through DCs from April 1, 2015, to August 30 this year, and copies of communications by the Governor on the memorandums.” 

The reply from the office of the Governor’s secretary was that it received no memorandum during the time period, he said.

Surender Ghai, who is the district spokesman for Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), said: “It seems that the government has been mounting pressure on officials not to forward the memorandums to the Governor. We appeal to the Governor to look into the matter and take action against erring officials.”

The INLD submitted 11 memorandums for the Governor from January 2015 to August this year.

State INLD chief Ashok Arora told the media in Chandigarh today: “People submit their memorandums, hoping their demands will be fulfilled and grievances addressed. But how will it happen when memorandums do not reach the Governor? The government has no control over its officials. Members of the party will soon meet Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, seeking action in the matter.”

Health Minister Anil Vij said, “It is a serious matter if there is truth in it. Officials must forward memorandums submitted to them for the Governor. I will take up the matter with the authorities.”

Ambala Additional Deputy Commissioner RK Singh refused to accept the RTI reply. “This is impossible as we have a good mechanism to forward memorandums to the appropriate authorities. No memorandum remains with the DC’s office,” he added.