THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State police chief T P Senkumar has issued a circular directing officers at the police headquarters that all departments, including the secret wing ‘T’ branch, should provide information to the public under the Right To Information(RTI) Act based on the prevailing order.
In his circular issued on Thursday, Senkumar said all departments should comply with the order issued by former DGP Jacob Punnoose on January 27, 2009.
Punnoose had said in the circular the officers at the police headquarters were bound to disclose establishment matters, action taken on petitions regarding allegations of corruption and human rights violations to the public, under the RTI Act.
The circular by Senkumar assumed significance as he had tried to transfer a woman employee from the T-branch after he was reinstated as the state police chief.
However, the employee managed to continue in T-branch after the government intervened in the matter. Senkumar wanted the functioning of all the departments at the headquarters to be transparent, sources said.
As per the RTI Act, organisations cannot withhold information.
All departments at the headquarters, including the ‘T’ branch, should provide the information sought by an applicant.
If any section fails to provide information, the Public Information Commissioner concerned should report the violation to the State Information Commissioner for further action, the circular said. Jacob Punnoose had issued the order following a direction from the State Information Commission stating the citizens were experiencing difficulties in getting information from the Police Department. However, some departments, including the Special Branch and Crime Branch-CID were reluctant to provide information.
The circular by Senkumar assumed significance as he had tried to transfer a woman employee from the T-branch after he was reinstated as the state police chief.