State election body has zilch on eunuch rights RTI

Updated on: 28 June,2009 07:43 AM IST |
Kranti Vibhute |

NIRVAN Marjadi (19), Kushal Mehta (19) and Dharampal Dave (18), students of SVKM Law College, did not expect such a reply

NIRVAN Marjadi (19), Kushal Mehta (19) and Dharampal Dave (18), students of SVKM Law College, did not expect such a reply. All they did was file an RTI to the Maharashtra State Election Commission on the rights accorded to eunuchs in the state. The letter they got back said: 'It is not possible for us to give such kind of RTI application reply (sic).'

Dave says, "I was upset and shocked that the State Election Commission doesn't have the answer to my RTI. We will now file a petition in MSHRC within 10 days." This will be addressed to the MSHRC chairperson and the subject will be violation of human rights for eunuchs.

The students will ask why eunuchs are not allowed simple human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, as well as the Protection of Humans Rights Act 1993. The students have decided to make the state of Maharashtra a respondent in their petition.

Dr Suresh Joshi, Chief Information Commissioner, Maharashtra State, said, "If the students are not satisfied with the reply from the Public Information officer, they can file an RTI to the first appellate officer in the same office. If they are still not satisfied, then they can approach us. I can't comment on what grounds the students got that reply."

D B Suryavanshi, Public Relations Officer of Maharashtra State Election Commission, said, "I will need to go the application and the reply before I can comment on this."