Bhopal: Every day new revelations are surfacing in the ongoing dispute over the sale of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar's properties in Indore. After the High Court’s order, the investigation of this case has been handed over to the EOW, but the role of the Indore Commissioner Office, in this case, is also raising many questions.
The Indore Commissioner Office is accused of hiding information related to the Khasgi Trust.
In this case, Ajay Dubey, the RTI activist of Bhopal and the convener of the Right to Information Movement, had sought information about the special trust from Indore Divisional Office in 2017. His request was refused by the Indore Commissioner Office, after which he made an appeal to the State Information Commission.
The State Information Commission had directed the Indore Commissioner Office to hand over the information sought by the applicant, but till now the information has not been made available in the Indore Commissioner Office.
RTI activist Ajay Dubey came to know that the Khasgi Trust which was created to look after the properties of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, is not doing its duty as it ought to. Due to corruption, there were encroachments at many religious places in which a big role was played by officers of Khasgi Trust and the Madhya Pradesh government.
Also read: Khasgi Trust Case: More than meets the eye
Ajay Dubey had approached the State Information Commission on the information not given by the Divisional Commissioner Office, and the Information Commission, having found his application veracious, ordered the Indore Divisional Commissioner Office to fulfil the applicant’s request. But instead of giving out the information required, Indore Divisional Commissioner's office filed a petition for reconsideration in the State Information Commission.
RTI activist Ajay Dubey says that there is no system of reconsideration in the Information Commission Order. No person can file a petition for reconsideration in the High Court regarding the right to information. The Divisional Commissioner Office did not provide the information required and then filed a review petition on the order of the State Information Commission which raises many questions on the intentions of the Divisional Commissioner Office.
RTI activist raises questions
In an interview with ETV Bharat, RTI activist Ajay Dubey said that the Khasgi Trust was formed to appreciate the efforts of Devi Ahilyabai. She played a major role in the management of religious places and their properties, all over India. But the Khasagi Trust seems to have deviated from its path and the systems have steadily deteriorated.
There were various encroachments at religious places due to heavy corruption. The Khasgi Trust and some officers of Madhya Pradesh played a big part in these wrongdoings.
