Sahil has reported on issues related to Indian minorities and marginalized communities over the past 15 years and is currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. [4]
Beyond Headlines
In 2010, Sahil co-founded Beyond Headlines, an independent news platform focusing on issues that mainstream media often overlooks. Based in Batla House, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, the platform covers topics related to minorities, farmers, workers, and marginalized communities. The organization operates without any permanent employees and relies on voluntary contributions. [5]
Sahil has stated that he founded Beyond Headlines due to his dissatisfaction with the editorial policies of mainstream media, which he felt were influenced by corporate and political interests. His platform focuses on reporting news from a perspective that highlights marginalized voices. [6]
RTI journalism and investigative reporting
Sahil's RTI journalism has led to various challenges, including threats and legal notices. In an interview, he revealed that he received threatening calls after filing an RTI against a Bihar Member of Parliament regarding the use of public funds. He also stated that students using RTI are sometimes targeted with defamation notices from universities. [7]
In 2010, Sahil obtained an autopsy report through the Right to Information (RTI) Act regarding the 2008 Batla House encounter case. The report stated that one of the deceased, Ameen, had died due to "shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple injuries." Sahil raised questions about the official account, as the police claimed Ameen sustained these injuries after falling while trying to flee the Batla House apartment. [8]
Later, in 2013, Sahil questioned the Delhi Sessions Court's verdict, which convicted Shahzad Ahmad for the murder of Inspector M.C. Sharma during the same encounter. He argued that while the court had delivered its judgment, legal avenues for appeal were still open. [9]
In 2014, a French news channel, France 24, featured Sahil in a report highlighting his RTI-based investigative work. The report stated that his RTI requests to India's Ministry of Health led to a significant reduction in the prices of over 315 essential medicines, with costs dropping between 30% and 70%. This allowed ordinary citizens greater access to affordable healthcare. France 24 recognized Sahil as one of the activists using the RTI Act to combat corruption and promote government transparency. [10]
In December 2012, Sahil co-founded Insaan International Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at educating citizens about the Right to Information (RTI) Act and assisting them in effectively following up on their applications. The initiative was launched to empower individuals to demand transparency in governance and to counter bureaucratic obstacles faced by RTI applicants. [11]
In 2013, he expressed skepticism about the Central Information Commission (CIC) ruling that brought political parties under RTI scrutiny. He pointed out that RTI queries are routinely denied and CIC hearings take years to materialize, making transparency difficult to achieve. [12]
Sahil has been vocal about the historical significance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and its role in exposing corruption. He has argued that, contrary to popular belief, RTI was not solely an activist-led movement but was also advocated by the Press Council of India, which pushed for greater transparency in governance. In a 2019 interview, he stated, "Many think that RTI was a movement started by a lot of activists. If you look at history, it was the Press Council of India who demanded a tool for seeking information and more transparency." [13]
Sahil has emphasized the RTI Act's crucial role in enabling journalists to hold the government accountable. In 2019, he reiterated the need for strengthening RTI laws to prevent government opacity. [14]
Through investigative reports, Afroz Alam Sahil highlighted the neglect of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's historical artifacts, revealing their deterioration due to bureaucratic delays despite multiple official correspondences over the years. [15]
In 2015, Sahil reported on the growing backlog of RTI appeals and complaints at the Central Information Commission (CIC), highlighting delays that could extend up to several years. [16]
Among his notable RTI findings, Sahil discovered that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) spent ₹12 lakh on newspaper and magazine subscriptions in 2009-2010, an expenditure that was revealed through his RTI request. [17]
Investigations on Waqf Properties
Sahil has investigated issues related to Waqf properties, particularly in Delhi Waqf Board. His RTI requests revealed a decline in the number of registered cemeteries under the board. Initially, over 500 cemeteries were recorded, but a later RTI request showed only around 400, while board officials stated that only about 75 remained under their ownership. [18]
Sahil noted that despite amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995 in 2013 to address legal loopholes, issues of mismanagement and encroachments persisted. He argued that the increase in the official database of waqf properties resulted from ongoing surveys but was misrepresented in some narratives. He also stated that the authorities have not been proactive in addressing illegal occupations of waqf land. [18]
According to Sahil, Delhi once had over 500 cemeteries, but their number has drastically declined over the years, with only a fraction remaining today, despite official records listing 488 cemeteries. [19]
Indian