Members of India Against Corruption (IAC) recently compelled the regional passport officer to declare her office corruption-free. As part of their campaign to make all government offices in the city free of corruption, IAC had carried out the agitation, which involved demonstrations, at the regional passport office on September 22. At least 75 IAC volunteers met regional passport officer Shakuntala Rane and appealed to her to declare her office ‘corruption-free.’
Rajesh Nirgude
After initial reluctance, regional passport officer Shakuntala Rane signed a declaration on Sept 29
Interestingly, Rane told the volunteers that she will have to seek the ministry’s permission and currently cannot sign or give such a declaration in writing. Not dejected by the refusal, the volunteers persisted for a week. Finally, Rane signed the declaration on September 29.
This reporter tried to meet Rane in this regard, but was told that the media is barred from her office. Debraj Pradhan, joint secretary (RTI) and central information officer of Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, told Mirror that that the passport officers are not barred from speaking to the media.
Meanwhile, IAC members scored another victory on September 30 when the chief commissioner of Income Tax department, Satya Prakash, signed such a declaration. The activists said they will be heading to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on October 5 at 10 am for a similar declaration. The IAC has started a helpline at 084466-60118, where after studying the case, volunteers will meet concerned officials and request them to co-operate.
Rajesh Nirgude
After initial reluctance, regional passport officer Shakuntala Rane signed a declaration on Sept 29
Interestingly, Rane told the volunteers that she will have to seek the ministry’s permission and currently cannot sign or give such a declaration in writing. Not dejected by the refusal, the volunteers persisted for a week. Finally, Rane signed the declaration on September 29.
This reporter tried to meet Rane in this regard, but was told that the media is barred from her office. Debraj Pradhan, joint secretary (RTI) and central information officer of Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, told Mirror that that the passport officers are not barred from speaking to the media.
Meanwhile, IAC members scored another victory on September 30 when the chief commissioner of Income Tax department, Satya Prakash, signed such a declaration. The activists said they will be heading to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on October 5 at 10 am for a similar declaration. The IAC has started a helpline at 084466-60118, where after studying the case, volunteers will meet concerned officials and request them to co-operate.
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