After NDTVs media event at Rastrapati bhavan for its 25th Anniversary event, Sensed something unethical and filed an RTI application to the President secretariat.
My RTI Application:
Is rastrapati bhavan allowed to host private parties and events sponsored by media and corporate houses? If so, how and what are they charged? Also let me know the list of such events that took place at rastrapati bhavan from year 2000.
Here is the reply for my application:
In order to avoid difficulty to general public due to traffic arrangements for functions held in Delhi, where the President is the Chief Guest, a policy decision has been taken to organize such functions, to the extend possible, in the Rashtrapati Bhavan/Estate Auditorium. The organizers were charged Rs.45,000/- towards Auditorium charges. Such data from the year 2000 is not readily available and will require compilation which would disproportionately divert the resources of the Public Authority as provided under section 7(9) of the RTI Act, 2005. However, a list of functions organized by Media/Corporate Houses in Rashtrapati Bhavan/Estate Auditorium, where the President was the Chief Guest since 25.07.2012, is as follows: Date and time: Thu, 31 Jan 2013 at 1200 Hrs Function: The President inaugurates the Hindu Centre For politics and public policy Date and time: Sat 14 Dec. 2013 at 1715 Hrs Function: The President will be pleased to meet the 25 Greatest Global Indians and attend the event Tribute to the 25 Greatest Global Indians being organized on the occasion of 25th Anniversary of New Delhi Television.
Rs.45,000/- for Rastrapati Bhavan auditorium. Go invite him for an event in delhi, who knows, you might sit beside prez in his bhavan with damn good publicity at a cheap price!
Going to shoot a letter to the President on such unethical(my opinion) practices and raise another RTI application on such policy decision minutes/approvals and criteria to prez secretariat.