Railways sees red over RTI revelation, transfers official -Governance Now

Railways sees red over RTI revelation, transfers official

Official cleared file revealing information that could put Mamata Banerjee in a spot over her absence from New Delhi

PTI | August 25, 2010

An official of the railway minister's cell (office) appears to have fallen victim to the anger of the Ministry bosses following an RTI revelation that Rs 11 lakh was spent by authorities who went to meet Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal several times.

The official, who is believed to have cleared the file related to the RTI reply, has been asked on Tuesday not to report for duty for the next two days, sources in the ministry said.

He also faces the threat of being shunted out from the cell.

The development comes in the wake of reports that the railway minister is peeved over the revelations in the RTI reply.

The Right To Information reply had disclosed that the railway ministry had to shell out more than Rs 11 lakh per year for the travel expenses of five officials to meet Banerjee in Kolkata.

Banerjee has been under attack from Opposition parties for spending more time in West Bengal in view of next year's assembly elections in West Bengal than in Delhi.

Sources said the minister apprehends that the RTI issue could be raised in Parliament tomorrow.

Railway ministry has, however, sought to downplay the issue of expenses incurred saying the officials undertook the visits to discuss official matters and review projects.

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