ENCROACHED WATER BODIES: RTI appeal filed against Kathua official for ‘withholding info’

Jammu, Sep 26: RTI activist Raman Kumar Sharma has filed an appeal under the Right to Information (RTI) Act against a revenue official in Kathua before the First Appellate Authority for whathas been alleged, “denial of information regarding encroachments on natural water bodies in tehsil Kathua.”

According to the RTI activist, on September 7, 2025, he submitted an RTI application under registration number KATHU/R/2025/60086/1 through the J&K government’s online portal, seeking details of natural water bodies and encroachments in tehsil Kathua.

The activist had specifically sought copies of records showing names of the natural water bodies, villages where they are situated, their dimensions, number of encroachments, names of illegal encroachers, and action taken against the mafias, which encroached on these water bodies.

Instead of providing the information, the activist said that the concerned official, vide his office communication dated September 20, 2025, asked him to personally visit his office on September 29 and 30 to inspect the records.

In his First Appeal (under the RTI Act) bearing number KATHU/A/2025/60030 dated 24/09/2025 before the Concerned Authority in the office of Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, the activist described the response of the concerned revenue official as a violation of the RTI Act, which mandates the supply of information.

The appellant (Sharma) has urged the First Appellate Authority to direct the concerned official to furnish the complete information about encroachment and encroachers within a fixed timeframe.