UPSIC : a fool’s paradise to info seekers

UPSIC  : a fool's paradise to info seekers   Either UPSIC PIO is pretending that black is white or Ignorance is a bliss to him . This is what a letter of the UPSIC PIO establishes.   I made a request for info on five points to the PIO of UPSIC , asking him about digitalization of UPSIC records   under centrally sponsored scheme.   Sri Mata Prasad , PIO of UPSIC has sent letter no. 8461/ra.su.aa./10 dated 25-03-2011. the letter is available at given link –   http://file1.hpage.com/002342/62/bilder/act_ignorant_upsic_april_11.jpg   The reply of PIO states that my letter dated 28-02-11 ( sent vide speed post no. EU876123987IN dated 28-02-11 ) reached the PIO by 11-03-11 ( 11 odd days ) , suggesting that even the RTIs  by speed posts move at snail's speed in UPSIC .   The referred letter of PIO further states that the estimated expenditure of the required info is Rs. 600/- . The letter further states that if real expenditure shall be more than Rs. 600/- , it shall be demanded and if real expenditure shall be less than Rs. 600/- , excess money shall be refunded to me .  This is gross violation of section 7(3)(a) of the RTI act which states "Where a decision is taken to provide the information on payment of any further fee representing the cost of providing the information, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall send an intimation to the person making the request, giving— the details of further fees representing the cost of providing the information as determined by him, together with the calculations made to arrive at the amount in accordance with fee prescribed under sub-section (1), requesting him to deposit that fees, and the period intervening between the despatch of the said intimation and payment of fees shall be excluded for the purpose of calculating the period of thirty days referred to in that sub-section;"   As per the act , the PIO can ask for the COST of info only and not the expenditure on info. Moreover  no calculations made to arrive at the amount of Rs. 600/- has been given.   The reply in layman's language , that too by PIO of UPSIC makes it clear that Either UPSIC PIO is pretending that black is white or Ignorance is a bliss to him . In both the cases UPSIC  is  a fool's paradise to info seeker . after all even i am lost about the info i asked for and trying my wits to teach a,b,c of rti act to UPSIC....   Urvashi Sharma 9369613513 -- Urvashi Sharma RTI Helpmail( Web Based ) aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com Mobile Rti Helpline 8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )