THANJAVUR: A government arts and science college in Thanjavur asked an RTI activist to prove his citizenship to get details under RTI on the steps taken by the college to prohibit trespassing into the college premises.
J Suresh Kumar, 47, a social rights activist from Elisa Nagar resides close to Rajah Serfoji Government College, Thanjavur. He said there was no response to his repeated petition asking the college administration to prevent the premises from being misused by anti-social elements.
“I wrote several letters to the college principal V Senthamilselvi seeking steps to raise the compound wall of the college to prevent unauthorised entry but there was no response from the college management,” said Kumar.
He said that he decided to seek a RTI reply asking measures taken to rebuild the compound wall and whether police complaint was lodged to prohibit trespassers. “But she has asked me to prove my citizenship to get the details in her reply which I received on Saturday,” he said.
He said that he wrote to the Tamil Nadu state information commission complaining against the public information officer (PIO) of the college. However, legal experts said that the public information officer seeking petitioner to prove citizenship cannot be termed incorrect.
“Apart from fundamental rights, ordinary legal rights are available only for citizens. Therefore, asking the petitioner to prove his citizenship cannot be termed as illegal. However, the petitioner can approach the appellate authority for adjudication besides going for appeal,” said T Lajapathi Roy, advocate, Madurai bench of the Madras high court.
