ASI fails to give details on works at Ayodhya site

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has failed to provide details of the excavations carried out by it on the disputed site of Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid at Ayodhya under the Right to Information (RTI) Act despite the directions of the Central Information Commission (CIC).

Noted RTI activist S C Agrawal, who had sought the information, has now approached the transparency panel again to demand the setting up a mechanism to oversee the implementation of its own orders.

“It has become a usual trend with many public authorities to not care for directions/orders given by CIC. Many petitioners sit quietly with public authorityconcerned not responding to CIC verdicts. CIC should be given more powers to act against non-complying public authorities to save its image being taken as paper-tiger,” he said.

Agrawal suggested that the CIC could take necessary steps to monitor compliance of its verdicts without requiring petitioners to approach the Commission for non-compliance of CIC verdicts.

“All CIC verdicts can have uniform dates of compliance on the 10th, 20th and 30/31st day of a month. Files may be kept pending till a copy of compliance reaches the Commission.

Thereafter automatic procedure for non-compliance may be initiated by the Commission at its own level. It should not be difficult in the present era of computerisation. If required, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) should be approached for additional staff for smooth working at CIC,” he said.

He pointed out that the ASI had failed to comply with the direction issued by Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Misra on February 29.