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| Selection of Assistant Controller Legal Metrology | | SIC directs PSC to disclose Information | |
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 21: The State Information Commission (SIC) has directed the J&K Public Services Commission (PSC) to disclose the information related to the key of answers to the question paper series B for the written exams conducted by PSC last year for the selection of Assistant Controllers in Legal Metrology Department.
As per details available an RTI applicant Yasir Hussain Kanroo a resident of Kanli Bagh, Baramulla had filed an RTI application before the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking disclosure of key of answer to the questions, Series B, Roll No. 1140394. Yasir was a candidate for examination screening test for the post of Assistant Controller (Legal Metrology) Department. The PIO rejected his application on 16-01-2013 by offering him an inspection of OMR sheet as well as key and accordingly he was directed to visit the PIO's office at Jammu. The applicant had later on filed first appeal before the First Appellate Authority (FAA) on 29-01-2013.
The FAA sought his personal attendance for disposal of his appeal at Jammu vide opportunity notice No.PSC/RTI/2013/12 dated 13-2-2013. Again he could not attend his office on the reasons that he being an unemployed youth could not afford expenses for travel. The FAA as per section 16 of the State RTI Act is duty bound to dispose of the first appeal in accordance with the law. Though the appellant Yasir Hussain Kanroo did not attend, his absence should have not refrained the FAA to discharge his duties which are assigned to him under section 16 of the J&K RTI Act 2009 .
"It is unfortunate that senior officer of the constitutional body is not sensitive to statutory duties cast on him" reads the order passed by CIC GR Sufi on July 11th 2013.
Pertinent to mention that the issue of providing keys to the candidates to various examinations has come earlier under the consideration of the SIC and keeping in view the definition of information in section 2 of the J&K RTI Act 2009 the State Information Commission (SIC) has declared that such information is givable and should be disclosed to the information seeker who wants such information. The commission was informed by the appellant that some other boards like BOPEE are already making 'key' available on website and news papers immediately after exams are over.
The SIC order further reads "The PIO is accordingly directed to disclose key as sought by the information seeker. The PIO cannot thrust the option of inspection on the information seeker because the Act has given option to the information seeker either to seek information, copies of any document etc. or apply for inspection of documents. Thus the PIO cannot dictate option to the information seeker. Therefore, the information be disclosed within 10 days from receipt of this order with compliance report to this Commission"
According to RTI experts the PSC is again and again denying to provide the Information related to providing of the copies of the answer books to RTI applicants inspite of the fact that Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) has categorically told PSC authorities that such information is givable . " We hope that the Chief Information Commissioner GR Sufi must take a strong note of this misconduct on the part of PSC and the PIO must be penalized for such acts as the PSC commits such mistake again and again " said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat a noted RTI Activist of State who is also the Founder of J&K RTI Movement . |
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