Vinobha K T, TNN May 9, 2012, 02.47AM IST
MANGALORE: Are information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 are cent per cent accurate? Apparently not, if the reply given by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to a query raised by a city-based teacher is any indicator to go by.
When his Aadhaar card was delayed for more than four months, Fr Richard Rego, associate professor of the department of mass communication of St Aloysius College, submitted an RTI application to UIDAI seeking information on the status of his Aadhaar enrolment.
Within a month, the central public information office (CPIO) of UIDAI replied that the enrolment agency 'lost' his data packets while transferring it to the technology centre. UIDAI also directed Fr Rego to re-enroll himself as and when UIDAI phase II is commenced. However, Fr Richard got his Aadhaar card within three days after he received the RTI reply.
Fr Richard enrolled for Aadhaar card on August 26, 2011. After the agency failed to deliver his card in the stipulated time, he registered an online complaint on December 2, 2011. Later, when no action was taken by the authority, he sought information on his complaint and the status of his Aadhaar enrolment under RTI on February 1.
In an interim reply, the CPIO intimated Fr Rego on February 17 that the matter has been taken up for investigation.
Fr Rego told TOI that the CPIO should be made liable for giving "irresponsible and false information" in the RTI reply.
"The CPIO (in the final reply) concluded on May 2 that the enrolment agency had lost my enrolment data packets while transferring it. However, within three days of that, I received my Aadhaar card. What is the reliability and sanctity of RTI replies? How and from where did the lost packets suddenly resurfaced?" he questioned adding that he is thinking of filing a complaint with an appellate authority questioning the sanctity of RTI information given by the UIDAI.