In an interesting incident, Shantilal Bhoi, a class 5 pass auto-driver, received 39kgs of documents from Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) in reply to the RTI applications he filed.

Shantilal filed 3 different RTI applications asking for information on his 1.5 Bigha land that was acquired by RIICO 20 years back in Bhoiyon-ki-pancholi village (Udaipur). Shantilal suspected something amiss in the land acquisition by the officials and hence filed RTI applications in July-August last year.

He solicited details on total land acquired for the said colony development, showcause notices issues by RIICO and action taken against defaulters. To evade his queries, he was sent a demand notice by RIICO officials for Rs 17,482 as photocopy charges. Shantilal escalated the matter and the appellate authority asked RIICO to provide information free of charge.

Shantilal received 9000 pages of information, as required by him. The information was sent to him by the Postal Department. Postal department on receiving the information expressed their inability to deliver the bulky parcel to Shantilal and requested him to visit the Post Office and collect the same. Shantilal then collected the documents from the postal office.

Shantilal said that he would now consult legal opinion and social workers on the next steps forward.

Source: The Times of India