Food & Drugs Administration did not provide essential information on its website

Editorial Comment

• Why was the necessary information not uploaded on the website ? The stand of the Government creates doubt about the transparency in its functioning. It will not be wrong if people want the Government to conduct an inquiry into this matter !

Mumbai – Under Section 4 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, it is mandatory for every Government Department to upload information for citizens. Every public authority needs to provide information on its organisational setup, activities, duties, rights, method of taking decisions, various yardsticks of functioning, rules & regulations, records, if meetings would be opened for public. However, on the website of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) no such information is available.

Though associated with the daily lives of citizens, FDA has in a way, hidden important information from people. This serious matter was brought to the notice of the concerned Department by Advocate Virendra Ichalkaranjikar (National President of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad); FDA did not bother to reply. It is thus a serious matter that creates doubts about the functioning of FDA. (Why is FDA not transparent in its functioning ? Is something fishy here ? The Government should conduct an inquiry. – Editor)

Advocate Ichalkaranjikar sent an E-mail to the FDA Commissioner on 2^nd October making him aware that this was a breach of the RTI Act and legal action can be taken against the Department.