RTI applicants Vikas Choudhary and Manohar Lal were left shell-shocked when in reply to their query the two received used condoms. The duo, residents of Chani Badi, Bhadra tehsil, Hanumangarh had last year filled two applications with the gram panchayat.
The query was regarding projects undertaken for the development since 2001. Allegedly sent by gram panchayat at the directions of State Information Commission the applicants received two used condoms wrapped in an old newspaper.
In the report it was revealed that Choudhary and Lal received two envelopes and after seeing the appalling contents they decided to open the other in presence of the block development officer. But as the BDO was not available they decided to open it in the presence of some senior members of the village. To everyone’s shock the contents of the second envelop was also the same.
When contacted, Navneet Kumar said it was a “mischievous act” after the condoms were posted in the reply.
Naveet Kumar, chief executive officer (CEO) of Hanumangarh Jila Parishad said, “The regrettable and illegal act has been done by some unknown person who appears to have access in the official system.”
He further said that steps will be carried out so that such incidents do not occur again.
The sarpanch also contended that it needs to be investigated what seal the envelopes carried and whether the the petitioners themselves had sent the condoms.
The Right To Information Act mandates that the reply be furnished within 30 days but the petitioners said that the response had come only recently. They also said the reply was sent by the village panchayat on the orders of the state information commission.
