News Tamil Nadu

Can’t Reveal Names Of Companies From Where TASMAC Liquor Is Procured As It Is ‘Trade Secret’: RTI Reveals

October 11, 2022
The Commune

In an RTI request filed by RTI activist Yuvraj Ramalingam, information was sought on the company name, brand, and amount spent on the procurement of liquors by TASMAC from 2016 to 2022.

Responding to the RTI filed, concerned Information Commissioner revealed that TASMAC does not keep separate official records for the names of the companies from where liquor is purchased from 2016 to 2022.

Additionally, they stated that, in accordance with Section 8(1)(d) of the Right to Information Act of 2005, the information requested comprises “business confidence” and “trade secrets”, and as a result, they are unable to provide the information requested.

They further stated that if the requested information were provided, it will be “detrimental to the competitive position of the parties involved”.

The petitioner also claimed that, despite his appeal to an appellate body, he received the same response.

This reply from Tamil Nadu government has drawn flak from public. Netizens took to question DMK’s double standards in revealing the data to public, which along with Opposition parties condemned the BJP’s decision to not reveal to public the highly classified papers of Rafael deal crucial to national security.

RTI activist Yuvaraj Ramalingam has made several expose of DMK government in the past through his RTI filing.

InAugust 2022, he had filed and RTI asking for number of liquor shops opened newly for the years between 2011 to 2022 in the Nilgiri district.

According to this RTI, the government opened 3 new TASMACs in 2021 and one new TASMAC in 2022 in Nilgiri district.

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