HARYANA HOUSE DENIES INFO ABOUT MLAS’ ATTENDANCE

The Haryana legislative assembly has refused to give information about the attendance of state MLAs in legislative assembly from the time they were elected in 2014 elections.

A query seeking the attendance record of all the lawmakers sought by Gurgaon-based activist Harinder Dhingra under the Right to Information Act, 2005, was turned down by the assembly. The first appeal in the case, was also turned down.

The legislative assembly also refused to give information regarding the total cost incurred in running the state assembly sessions since the new government was formed in 2014.

The RTI activist said such information should be in public domain as the legislators get salary for each day the assembly functions. “Public has the right to know which MLAs have raised their point in the assembly or has asked questions for their benefit,” Dingra said.

He also pointed out that Lok Sabha gives the same data suo moto on its website about the attendance of MPs in the session. The RTI, however, said since the formation of new government under BJP, the state assembly has worked in seven sessions for 37 days in all. It also said the assembly has been adjourned 10 times during this time.

Public has the right to know which MLAs have raised their point in the assembly or has asked questions for their benefit HARINDER DHINGRA , Gurgaon-based activist