RTI Act helps expose chinks in Chhattisgarh PSC exam

Raipur, June 13 (UNI) The Right to Information (RTI) Act has virtually proved the transparency it promised after a reserved category candidate in Chhattisgarh extensively used it to expose chinks in state Public Service Commission (PSC) examinations.

Information gathered by Ms Varsha Dongre, who appeared in the 2003 state civil services examination conducted by the PSC, led to registration of cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act and also suspension of PSC Chairman Ashok Darbari, a former Director General of Police.

Subsequently, the Bureau, which probed into the complaint lodged by Ms Dongre, found irregularities in the scaling process and recommended cancellation of appointments to 20 posts, including four posts of Deputy Collectors.

''The General Administration department (GAD) and Law department are examining the ACB recommendations and suitable action will be taken in due course'', Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh told newsmen few days ago.

Irregularities in Chhattisgarh PSC came to the fore at a time when high profile authorities of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and few state PSCs are seeking exemption from the purview of RTI Act specifically about information relating to ''examination and recruitment/appointment cases''.

Ms Varsha Dongre felt that recent developments in Chhattisgarh PSC were sufficient to counter any attempt by public service commissions to insulate themselves from public scrutiny.

''The RTI Act is a silver-lining'', she told UNI, adding that it was only on the information and documents secured from PSC under the Act that such irregularities could be brought to public domain.

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