On October 13 & 14, RTI activist Avinash Prabhune, Nagpur, had filed two separate applications seeking information regarding shooting of tiger, which was dubbed man-eater by the officials, in Dongarhaldi in Chichpalli range of Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM). The area falls under forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar's constituency Ballarshah.

However, even after two months there is no reply from the public information officer (PIO) concerned. The applicant had sought know about documents seeking permission to shoot tiger and it was not tranquillized first.

Prabhune also wanted to know measures taken by the authorities before granting permission to shoot the tiger and whether National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) protocol was followed before shooting it.

The application also sought to know whether locations where tiger killed humans were inside the forest area or outside. If humans were attacked in the forest area then what action was taken against them for trespassing.

"Generally, it is observed that there is no monitoring of tigers in areas outside national parks and sanctuaries and hence it is free for all. Villagers venture deep into the forests for poaching wild animals, extracting timber and forest produce and are attacked by large carnivores. Providing compensation in such cases is a loss to state exchequer as Rs 5 lakh to the next to kin of the victim is paid," said Bandu Dhotre, honorary wildlife warden of Chandrapur.

TOI on September 11, had highlighted reluctance of the department to share information under RTI on tiger numbers in the state. "I don't have hope from the appellate authority too as he hails from the same department and tends to be lenient towards his subordinates. I have filed second appeal before state information commissioner (SIC), Nagpur, for imposing punishment for not providing information in stipulated 30 days," said Prabhune.

The RTI activist on December 2 even called up the appellate authority and PIO with the office of PCCF (wildlife). Both assured to give information within a week and expressed regrets for the delay, but still information has not been supplied.

Prabhune is in process of filing complaint with SIC under Section 18 of the RTI Act for imposing penalty of Rs 250 per day for the delay by the PIO and also demanded disciplinary action against officials who failed to discharge their duty under RTI.

"Not replying to RTI application is not the sole issue. Forest officials delaying it without any fear of seniors is really surprising. Killing of tiger due to failure of forest department is not an information to be hidden. This also suggests total lack of transparency in the forest department," said Prabhune.

Prabhune's is not the only case. Another applicant Sachet Khandeswar said he too has been denied information on rescued wild animals that were brought to Seminary Hills for treatment during 2013-14.