RTI: Waqf refuses info to RTI activist on land survey | Hyderabad News - Times of India



Representative image HYDERABAD: The officials of the Telangana State Waqf Board appear unwilling to furnish information sought under the provisions of the Right to Information ( RTI ) Act. RTI activist Kareem Ansari , who is associated with the non-government organisation Yugantar, recently sought data from the board.In a list of six questions, Ansari, who is a resident of Shaheen Nagar , asked how many dargahs exist in the Balapur mandal in Ranga Reddy district. He also sought to know when the last waqf land parcel survey was done and asked for a copy of the report. To his dismay, information was refused as the public information officer wanted the activist to furnish the `file number'. “The public information officer, in his response, said that my application has been rejected. The reason cited is that the file number and the name of the institu tion are required. I have asked for basic information.How is it possible for me to know the file number? This is a tactic to evade the questions which I have asked,“ Ansari claimed. The other questions in his RTI query include whether the board receives revenue from waqf-registered institutions in the Balapur mandal and also details of encroachments in the area. Other activists pointed out that this is not the first time that the State Waqf Board has declined to respond to requests for information.According to activist M A Akram, the board made him run around in circles before giving him information. “Declining to provide basic information is not a new thing. The board employees speak rudely to us when we seek information.This shows that they are not cooperative,“ he said.