Lucknow: A street dog’s death in Aligarh has drawn scrutiny from the UP State Information Commission (UPSIC) after an RTI application seeking details of treatment and rescue facilities was answered nearly three months late, according to the complainant.Mohd Imran Khan of Iglas, Aligarh, said the dog in his locality was ailing and he repeatedly approached the district veterinary hospital for treatment, but without result. Khan then filed a Right to Information (RTI) application with the animal husbandry department on Jan 25, asking what arrangements existed for roadside animals needing urgent care.In his RTI, Khan sought to know whether any ambulance service was available for transporting such animals, whether there was a rescue centre or a helpline, and whether any NGO or private agency was engaged on contract in Aligarh for treating injured or sick animals found on roads.Khan said he received the requested information only on April 16, by which time the dog had died. Under the RTI Act, information is to be provided within 30 days of an application.Aggrieved by the delay and the outcome, Khan filed a complaint before the UPSIC. During a recent hearing, information commissioner Mohammad Nadeem observed that cases involving animal distress required heightened sensitivity and issued a notice to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the concerned department, seeking an explanation in the matter.The commission has fixed the next hearing for July 27.At the hearing, thedeputy CMO of Aligarh told the commission that Khan’s RTI application was transferred to their office on April 7 and that information was then sent to the applicant on April 16. The official said the delay occurred at the level of the department that initially received the RTI.The RTI Act requires that if an application is to be transferred to another public authority, it should be done within five days. The commission has sought an explanation on why the transfer took substantially longer than the prescribed period.
