Sabir Ahamed, a researcher affiliated with Amartya Sen’s Pratichi (India) Trust, following his application for information on medical administration in Bengal, was asked to provide proof of citizenship by the state public information officer at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.
The national research coordinator at Pratichi, Ahamed, had requested information on students, teachers, and administrative staff from all 23 medical colleges in Bengal, including social group memberships.
In order to do research on the representation of marginalized groups in medical education and administration, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, and minorities, Ahamed required this data, which cannot be found in any limited government records.
Ahamed aimed to evaluate the representation of marginalized communities in medical administration and education.
According to the Telegraph, Ahamed said, “As a researcher, I have filed more than 2,500 applications in various departments of state and central governments since the enactment of the RTI law. This was the first time I was asked to prove my citizenship. According to the RTI Act, a mere declaration of citizenship is typically sufficient.”
In a December 2 response to the RTI request, the National Medical College’s state public information officer (SPIO) requested that Ahamed provide proof of his Indian citizenship.
“In response to your RTI application…, the undersigned would like to mention that you have not declared in the said application that you are a citizen of India. Therefore we are unable to answer your queries until you provide proof of your Indian citizenship,” The SPIO’s communication said.
Ahamed responded by sending the SPIO a copy of his Aadhaar card. On December 6, the medical faculty sent out another message stating that although the applicant had described himself as a scholar, the Aadhaar card was not regarded as proof of citizenship but they would be provided the information.
However, the Centre’s website states no proof of citizenship is required when applying under RTI, and the official concerned is not expected to ask for proof.
As mentioned in the website, but in some extraordinary situations, a PIO (or SPIO) may request proof (of citizenship); for instance, if he has grounds to suspect that the application was not submitted by a citizen or if there is uncertainty as to whether the applicant is an Indian citizen.
He also said, “My question is: what made the SPIO of the medical college find reason to believe I am not an Indian citizen, or doubt my citizenship? Was it my name, or was it an attempt to deny information?” .
On his query, the authority referred him to search the institution’s website. The authorities could not understand the term “type of association and social group (SC, ST, OBC, general and minority).”
Ahamed, who has written to the medical college authorities and health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, expressing his concern about being asked for citizenship proof to get RTI data, said, “All the data I sought from that particular medical college should be available publicly on their website. Despite following the RTI norms, I am being asked to prove my citizenship.”
Nigam stated that before making any comments on this matter, he would “ascertain the facts.”
Prasenjit Bose, an economist and activist who has submitted numerous RTI inquiries, describes Ahamed’s harassment as a “despicable act of humiliation.” He claimed that they were breaking the law by denying information.
