Quickly after a report printed by The Hindu stating that the Centre was spending Rs 1.65 crore on 3D PM Modi selfie cubicles, an advisory was issued by the Railway Board making it necessary for all RTI replies to be cleared by common managers (GMs) of zonal railways or divisional railway managers (DRMs).
The Hindu report was primarily based on an RTI filed by a retired railway official Ajay Bose. In response, the Central Railways said that the Union authorities deliberate to put in two kinds of selfie cubicles – everlasting and short-term. The reply, nevertheless, failed to say the names of the businesses concerned.
In line with the Railway Board advisory, the “high quality of RTI replies dealt with by zonal railways and different area models had deteriorated”.
“Timelines for disposal of RTI functions had been surpassed in lots of circumstances leading to a big numbers of appeals filed earlier than the primary appellate authority or the central data fee, not solely rising the quantum of labor however bringing disrepute to the organisation,” it mentioned.
“RTI replies would henceforth be authorized respectively on the stage of the final supervisor (GM) in zonal railways and divisional railway managers (DRMs) within the divisions. Equally, replies to first appeals obtained underneath the RTI Act have to be proven to the GM and DRM involved,” the advisory mentioned.
On January 3, the Central Railways chief public relations officer (CPRO) Shivraj Manaspure, who the supplied data underneath RTI concerning the cumulative expenditure of the selfie cubicles, was unexpectedly transferred earlier than the tip of his tenure.
The CPRO tenure lasts for 2 years. Manaspure an IRTS officer of the 2011 batch, took cost solely in Could final 12 months. On December 29, 2023, he was transferred to the Central Railways Mumbai headquarters with none cause.
