'RTI Activism Became Business, Obstructing Public Servants,' Supreme Court Dismisses Plea
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday, June 15, said that “RTI activism” had become a business that was obstructing public servants from performing their duties.
While refusing anticipatory bail to two men who claimed that they were exposing corruption in a road project, the top court said they obstructed public servants from performing their duties. The duo were accused of obstructing construction, assaulting labourers and using caste-based slurs, Bar and Bench reported.
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In its judgment, the supreme court remarked, RTI activists. It’s become a new business. You don’t allow people to work…Who are you to monitor all this road progress and all? Are you an engineer there or superior authority? Are you an authorised representative of public? So called RTI activist”
As the counsel argued that the petitioners were concerned about alleged irregularities in the project for which Rs 57 crore had been released by the Central government, the court said the matter was for the authorities to address. While dismissing the plea, the court further stated that it is the central government which has issued funds, and it will also take care of the construction.
According to the prosecution, the accused obstructed an ongoing road construction project, criminally intimidated the complainant and labourers present at the site and used caste-based derogatory remarks against workers belonging to Scheduled Castes.
However, the accused have alleged that they had been falsely implicated after raising complaints about alleged corruption in the road construction work and exposing the corruption. They claimed that substandard material was being used in the project and that the FIR was lodged to protect contractors and officials involved in the construction.
