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| Will opposition contest dilution of RTI Act? | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 30: Many months have passed since the J&K Government made amendments in J&K RTI Rules of 2010. The Government has been under serious criticism from RTI activists , media and civil society. Even the Chief Information Commissioner of State Information Commission G R Sufi had shown his resentment over the amendments which eventually made the State Information Commission a lame duck as it cannot initiate action against the top Government officials over the non implementation of J&K RTI Act 2009. The Information Commission has powers to penalize the Public Information Officers (PIO's) and this continues in the new rules as well. Earlier the Commission could even summon the Chief Secretary of the State but that thing cannot happen now in view of the amendments made in J&K RTI Rules 2010. As the budget session of the Assembly is going to start next month the RTI activists across the state are having their eyes on the opposition who they feel could take up the issue in the Assembly.
Last year when the orders for amendments of J&K RTI Rules 2010 were passed in August last year the opposition Peoples Democratic Party minced no words in castigating state Government for making the State Information Commission a weak institution the PDP had said that the Government had eroded all institutions constituted for bringing transparency, accountability and the party endorsed the demand of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) for restoration of RTI Rules 2010.
While talking to Early Times noted RTI Activist Shahnawaz Sultan who is also Chief Organiser of J&K RTI Movement said that it is the duty of the opposition to raise this important issue in the upcoming session of state legislature " we hope the PDP will raise this issue and the Government must be forced to restore the old rules of 2010" Shahnawaz added.
Mohammad Ramzan Khan the general secretary of J&K RTI Movement criticized the J&K Govt for making amendments in the RTI rules he too hoped that opposition PDP will take up this matter in the assembly. |
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