Kuno Cheetah Project Director Summonsed by Information Commission

Information Commission Issues Summons to Kuno Cheetah Project Director

The Madhya Pradesh State Information Commission has personally summoned Uttam Sharma, the Director of the Kuno Cheetah Project, in three separate cases for refusing to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This action was taken by State Information Commissioner Rajesh Bhatt following complaints filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey.

Wildlife Activist's RTI Requests

Mr. Dubey had sought crucial documents related to the cheetahs' health through RTI. These included permits for sedating cheetahs in 2024, their blood test reports, post-treatment reports, and post-mortem reports. Additionally, he requested details on minerals used in construction within Kuno National Park, permissions for creating documentaries on the project, a list of doctors deployed at the cheetah hospital, and information on available health facilities.

Allegations of Information Withholding

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey alleged that the Forest Department rejected his RTI applications, citing national security and personal information. In some instances, the department demanded exorbitant fees for information, which the applicant described as a tactic to conceal information.

Director's Dual Role Questioned

The petitioner also accused Uttam Sharma of violating rules by acting as both the Public Information Officer (PIO) and the First Appellate Authority in the Kuno Cheetah Project. This meant he passed orders on his own appeals, which is contrary to the RTI Act. Mr. Dubey has urged the commission to impose a penalty on the director and order a departmental inquiry.