Applicant should have consulted Dorbar Shnong before filing the RTI: MLA, Rangbah Shnong
SHILLONG: Nongkrem legislator and HSPDP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit has come under the scanner for allegedly siding with the Rangbah Shnong of Laitkor Rngi to ostracize an RTI applicant who had sought to know details on the progress of the construction of an internal road in the area.
As per an FIR lodged with the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang in this regard, the Rangbah Shnong in the presence of the Nongkrem MLA had decided to ostracize the RTI applicant, Alaric AS Lyngdoh, from the village during a meeting held on Tuesday.
It was on June 3 this year that Lyngdoh had filed an application before the Public Information Officer, PWD (Roads), who, however, did not respond to the application.
Lyngdoh filed another appeal before the first Appellate Authority who in turn did not give satisfactory reply to the applicant which forced him to file a second appeal before the Chief Information Commissioner, CD Kynjing, who fixed November 11 as the date for hearing of the matter.
Kynjing also asked the PWD officials why information cannot be furnished and notices were also served to them.
Meanwhile, on learning of the matter, the Rangbah Shnong, Stenislaus Pyngrope, summoned him. Sensing trouble, Lyngdoh decided against attending the meeting.
According to the FIR, Lyngdoh was informed by the Dorbar Shnong that his family members should not return home because there were groups of people waiting for them with the intention of ‘harming them’. The complainant was also threatened to withdraw his RTI application by the Rangbah Shnong and other members of the Dorbar.
The RTI applicant asked the police to provide protection to him and the family and to also initiate an inquiry into the matter as filing an RTI is a right of an individual.
The copy of the FIR was also addressed to the Chief Information Commissioner.
Reports stated that during a hearing held on Tuesday in this regard, Nongkrem legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit termed RTI as hindrance to development and also colluded with the Rangbah Shnong to ostracize the RTI applicant and the family.
When contacted, the Nongkrem legislator said that the allegation leveled against him and the Dorbar was baseless and unfounded.
“If the intention is to file an RTI for the sake of development and out of concern over the lack development in the area, then it is understood and appreciated, but to do so out of enmity is something which should be disregarded,” Basaiawmoit said.
He also stated that filing an RTI with any department by any individual should be done in accordance with the Dorbar to prevent any kind of misunderstanding.
Basaiawmoit also stated that the details sought by this youth will hinder construction of the said road adding that there are certain schemes which need to be urgently implemented and in this case, the department would carry out the work before the money is sanctioned.
“So if such RTI is filed the department will not be in a position to reply, instead it will hamper the ongoing construction work,” he said, while informing that the sanction for the previous PWD scheme was meant only for earth cutting and measurement and the current scheme (2012) is for black topping and remaining works.
“Such kind of act done without the knowledge of the Dorbar is an insult to the Dorbar Shnong and its powers,” he added.
Meanwhile, brushing aside allegations leveled against him, the Rangbah Shnong of Laitkor Rngi, Stenislaus Pyngrope, said that the hearing held on Tuesday was to clarify on the schemes being implemented in this locality in as far as construction of the internal road from Lad Sahep till Shyniar is concerned.
“The allegation that the Dorbar Shnong has decided to ostracize him (Lyngdoh) is baseless and as a Shnong, we are concerned about the welfare of the locality and its people,” Pyngrope said, while adding that Lyngdoh should have consulted the
Dorbar before filing an RTI.
Referring to the case, the Rangbah Shnong said that Lyngdoh was mentioning about an old scheme, the foundation stone of which was laid down by the then Nongkrem MLA Lambor Malngiang. “We are concerned about the current scheme implemented in 2012 and we have no knowledge of what the PWD has done with the old scheme,” he added.