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| People seek intervention of SIC | | Authorities hide information! | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 17: The government departments have not been providing information to people in scheduled time under the RTI Act 2009.
The State Information Commission has expressed concern over non-implementation of the RTI Act 2009 in the state. "Government was directed several times, which subsequently issued orders to the department but very less implementation on the ground," the official said.
Recently government again asked departments to ensure implementation of the RTI Act and provide information to activists in due time.
On April 4, the Rural Development Department, issued a circular which says that it has been observed that the information under the RTI act is not being provided timely. "The RTI activists with the result approach appellate authority for providing of information under RTI Act 2009.
In most of the case, the PIOs are not attending the first appeal in the office and send their representative for hearings," the circular reads, a copy of which lies with Early Times.
"The instructions passed by the first appellate authority are not compiled in letter and spirit with the result the applicant approach to the commission and earn a bad name to the department," it reads.
Sources said that SIC had said several times that there have been "deficiencies, weaknesses" in implementation of the Act that "deserve priority attention".
Sources said there high incidence of public information officers "not providing" information to the RTI applicants within the stipulated period of 30 days prescribed under section 7 (1).
Sources said there were instances of use of section 6 (3) for transfer of RTI application to another public authority without due application of mind and without informing the applicant in many cases.
"There are high incidence of dissatisfaction with the type and quality of disposal of PAAs resulting in 2nd appeals in most cases," sources said.
The CIC has issued several instructions to departments while furnishing information to the applicant under the Act.
"Insufficient awareness about the JK RTI Act 2009 and the rules among the PIOs and first appellate authority.
Quality of orders/disposal by the PIOs and FAAs is not always upto the mark," an official quoting the SIC letter having said last year.
The SIC has also taken on departments for difficulties faced by the RTI applicants in depositing of fees and photocopy charges and in many cases the exact amount to be deposited for charges not communicated promptly by the PIOs.
"Non existence of special RTI calls in most government offices for providing assistance to the RTI applicants," the SIC had said.
The departments have been directed for "mechanical way of disposal by the FAAs as against the quasi-judicial manner intended in the Act for the 1st appeal and non-invocation of section 16 (3) for making reference to the SIC against erring PIO".
Sources said there is a small number indicating low level of awareness about RTI among the people.
They said there are incidents of less than desired assistance being provided to the PIOs by the officials in their own departments/public authorities in the collection of requisite information to be provided to the RTI applicants. |
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