CIC Issues Notice Over ‘Evasive Reply’ to RTI requesting details of Aaorogya Setu

• RTI applicant Saurav Das filed an RTI enquiring about the creator of the Aarogya Setu app
• The MeitY and NIC claimed that they did not have the requisite information.
• Addressing Das’ plea, the CIC issued a show-cause notice to the NIC and CPIO for giving an “evasive” response.

THD NewsDesk, New Delhi: Addressing the plea of RTI applicant, Saurav Das who had earlier inquired about the creation of Aarogya Setu application, the Central Information Commissioner (CIC) issued a show-cause notice to National Informatics Centre for for “prima facie obstruction of information and providing an evasive reply.” 

“The CPIO NIC also should explain that when in the website it is mentioned that Aarogya Setu Platform is designed, developed and hosted by National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India, then how is it that they do not have any information about the creation of the App,” the CIC said.

The RTI filed by Saurav Das sought information regarding the law under which it is regulated and whether the government plans to introduce a separate rule for handling the application’s data. In response, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Informatics Centre regretfully said they were incapable of furnishing any data. 

The responses were labeled “preposterous” by the CIC as it is common knowledge that India’s government is vehemently promoting the Aarogya Setu app. The show-cause notice issued by the transparency panel has directed the NIC to explain why it should not be charged with “prima facie obstruction of information and providing an evasive reply” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. 

The NIC’s elusive response was termed as “evasive” by the Information Commissioner Vanaja N Sarna as the website of the application mentions that it is “owned, updated and maintained” by MyGov and MeitY. Further, the CIC has directed the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to explain their excuse for not having the required information.

Source: TOI