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| Cluster University Principal unaware of her role | | 14 yrs on, Govt officers in JK remain callous about RTI implementation | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 15: The Cluster University Srinagar's designated Public Information Officer (PIO) who is also a senior Professor/ Principal in Government College of Women M A Road Srinagar is unaware of Right to Information Act (RTI). Inspite of the fact that she is a designated officer to dispose of RTI applications, in her written communication with State Information Commission (SIC) she said she thought it was Director Colleges (First Appellate Authority) who had to dispose of the RTI application.
Details available with Early Times reveal that a complaint under section 15 of J&K RTI Act 2009 was filed on 04.09.2017 by one Saquib Faheem Kachroo, son of Mohammad Ashraf Kachroo, of Gole Masjid, Buhlochi-Pora, Soura, Srinagar before SIC. The complaint came up for hearing earlier on 21.12.2017, 19.01.2018, 19.03.2018 . SIC finally heard the complaint fourth and last time on 22.05.2018 at Srinagar. Farooq Ahmed, Assistant Professor (Mathematics), Government College for Women / Cluster University, Srinagar (representative of the PIO) attended the hearing whereas the complainant Saquib Faheem did not attend the same.
The SIC vide its Interim Order dated 19.03.2018 had issued the following directions: "The PIO/Principal to file para-wise reply/counter statement to the complaint before the SIC and send a copy to the Commission well before the next date of hearing. Accordingly, hearing in the complaint is adjourned."
During the final hearing on 22.05.2018, representative of the PIO submitted a copy of the counter statement dated: 19.03.2018 filed by PIO/Prof. Shaheen Altaf, Principal, Government College for Women, Cluster University Srinagar stating as under:
"1. Undersigned awfully remained busy with the academic activities of the college as such there was not any delay on part of the undersigned either intentionally or deliberately in providing the requisite information to the complainant under the RTI Act of 2009.
2. That the undersigned was under a mistaken impression that the information sought by the complainant should come from the office of the Director Colleges, Higher Education Department who has been designated as First Appellate Authority. Keeping above in consideration it is requested that a lenient view in the above subject matter may be taken and the undersigned assures that in future a due care will be taken in such matters. In convenience in this regard is highly regretted."
The CIC's order dated 25.5.2018 reads: "The PIO/Principal, Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar also attended the hearing personally on 19.03.2018, during the previous hearing. She expressed regret in not being able to dispose of the RTI application in time for the reasons given in writing on the same day i.e. 19.03.2018 and reproduced above. The grounds and reasons for delay in providing information given by the PIO have been considered and on such consideration it is felt that the grounds given are reasonable and that provisions of section 17 of the J&K RTI Act, 2009 will not apply in this case as no malafide or deliberate dereliction of duty has been seen. It is also a fact that Principal of a premier institution like the Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar has lot of work load and may genuinely have missed to give the desired attention to the RTI application for the same reason. Therefore, no penalty needs to be imposed on the PIO/Principal, Government College for Women, Cluster University Srinagar in this case. However, she is advised to be careful in future while dealing with the applications filed under the J&K RTI Act, 2009 and take steps to implement various provisions of the J&K RTI Act, 2009 in the Public Authority/Government College for Women, M.A. Road, Srinagar. With these observations/directions the complaint is disposed of as closed."
Meanwhile reacting to this J&K RTI Movement (RTIM) has requested the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) to review his order. "This is a matter of serious nature, if an officer of Professor rank is not aware about the provisions of RTI law even after 14 years of its enactment in J&K, the CIC should have taken her to task. We will be formally writing a letter to SIC in this regard. The PIO should have been at least issued a notice under section 17 of state RTI Act. More so, how can a Principal be designated as a PIO in an academic institution, who is much senior in rank and status? This clearly indicates lack of RTI knowledge among our academic institutions and CIC must take this very seriously," said Dr Raja Muzaffar, Founder/Chairman J&K RTI Movement. |
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