RTI Hindi version on govt websites full of mistakes
In a reflection of the way things work in government circles, the mistakes that were pointed out in 2008 in the Hindi version of the Right to Information Act, have not yet been corrected.
The government’s RTI portal and websites continue to have flaws despite the Ministry of Law and Justice incorporating corrections and coming out with the revised edition of the Hindi version of the Act almost a year ago, said an RTI activist.
“This is a gazetted notification. I have been sending letters to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which is the concerned authority, but it seems like they do not want to rectify it. It has been almost eight years of reading the incorrect version which is still put on the website. It is such a shame,” said Commodore (retd) Lokesh K Batra, an RTI activist.
Available on website
One can read the flawed version of the RTI Act on the DoPT website, persmin.nic.in, the centre's administrative authority in terms of RTI Act. This website takes the browser to this address: www.righttoinformation.gov.in.
According to Batra, he pointed out 34 errors in the Hindi version that are still there. The English version of the RTI Act defines public authority as any authority or body or institution that comes under the central and state governments whereas the Hindi version considers it as a body owned, controlled or substantially financed by the Centre only.
Similar mistakes, like central information officer translated as the chief information officer, were pointed out.
“The Hindi speaking states can use these clauses to their advantage. For example somebody files an RTI in a state government's body, the officials can easily say they do not come under this. These things may happen.
“Despite warning them, about such possibilities, by sending letters and filing RTI's nobody seems to care,” added Batra. On February 18 2011, Batra wrote to director, DoPT, requesting to intervene.
He sent reminders on August 16 2011 and again on December 7 2011 regarding the same. On December 9 2011, the DoPT forwarded his email to MoL&J and they replied on January 4 2012 revealing that the revised edition incorporating all correction was published almost a year ago.
‘Lackluster approach’
“DoPT is the nodal ministry for implementation of RTI, how should one react on this kind of lackluster approach of DoPT in handling serious matter like this where the copy of the Act itself has mistakes for over six years now and DoPT is aware about it and still not doing anything” said Batra.
In April 2008, Batra noticed that the Hindi version of the RTI Act, 2005 contained errors in Section 2(h)(d)(i), he wrote to Central Information Commission and Prime Minister. Later, he was notified that the errors have been rectified.
On October 5 2010, Batra filed an RTI with the Ministry of Law and Justice, after he had observed that errors still exist in the corrections issued for page 687 in respect of section 2(h)(d)(i) and section 2(h)(d)(ii).
Further, translation of section 19(6) of the RTI Act, 2005 appears to be incomplete in the Hindi version of the Act.
