KURNOOL: Madabhushi Sridhar, associate professor of NALSAR University of Law, said that the Right to Information Act was silent on where the penalty collected from the defaulting officer should go. As per the Act, the officer has to provide information within 30 days and in case of default, a penalty of Rs. 250 per day is imposed on the officer. According to legal convention, any penalty will go to the state exchequer. He said the penalty be treated as compensation to be paid to the information seekers.

He was speaking at a workshop for journalists on the Act conducted by the AP Press Academy, AP Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Centre for Good Governance here on Saturday.

`A weapon'

Mr. Sridhar said the Section 4 of the Right to Information Act elaborated on voluntary disclosure of information so that people can access information without legal aid. He said the Act was a potential weapon in the hands of journalists who collect information on behalf of public. He said all accords between the Governments and private parties would come under public scrutiny as per the Act.

Superintendent of Police B. Malla Reddy, said the police department received only one requisition which was complied with. He said the police would willingly share information as withholding it would create doubts in people's minds.

Alapati Suresh, senior journalist said journalists drew powers from the people's right to know and receive information. Resource person Narendra Reddy said Sweden had provided right to information in 1766 while India passed the law in 2005. Press Academy manager Nabi Saheb, DPRO S.M. Basha, APUWJ vice president M. Kripavaram, and district president Michael Babu spoke.

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