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| DC offices not keeping record of RTI workshops | | Submits vague, misleading info to HC | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 15 : The offices of Deputy Commissioner's of almost all the districts have been caught on the wrong foot as no official record is maintained vis a vis workshops / seminars that were conducted on Right to Information Act (RTI) since the law came into force in J&K around 10 years back. The DC offices have been found to be submitting vague and misleading information before the High Court (HC) where a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled J&K RTI Movement V/S J&K State has been filed early this year.
Details available with Early Times reveal that DC office Budgam through Additional DC submitted a response before High Court of J&K through GAD vide office communication dated 14.05.2018. The office has only submitted details of RTI workshops / awareness camps held for PIOs and other officers from 2017 onwards while as no information has been provided pre 2017 . In addition to it no details have been provided about awareness camps held for general public especially those haling from disadvantaged communities which is a legal obligation on Govt as per section 23 of J&K RTI Act 2009.
Sources in DC office Budgam have told Early Times that in 2011 and 2012 several RTI workshops / seminars were held in the DC office Budgam at its Sheikh ul Alam hall. One of the programmes was presided over by the then Central Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Wajahat Habibullah along with Mohammad Rafi who was DC Budgam during that time.
"In 2012 J&K State Information Commissioner Nazir Ahmad came to attend an RTI programme on March 20th 2012, but the ADC has not at all mentioned about the same in his official response filed before High Court. This indicates that no official records are maintained vis a vis RTI Act and this makes it clear that Govt machinery is least bothered to promote RTI in J&K " said Dr Mushtaq Khan General Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement.
The DC office Rajouri also failed to reveal details about March 2010 workshop on RTI which was presided over by the then CIC Wajaha Habibullah. As reported already the district administration Bandipora by making an honest confession said that during 2010 to 2017 not even a single training programme / seminar on Right to Information Act (RTI) was held in the district. While responding to General Administration Department's (GADs) letter the Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Bandipora mentioned that during last two years 3 RTI workshops were conducted the district (2017 and 2018) and earlier one programme was held way back in 2010.
As reported already DC Kishtwar while providing a vague reply in response to High Court's notice vide his letter No: DCK/PS/18/1255-56 Dated : 26.07.2018 has informed HC through GAD that PIOs of different departments were imparted training and sensitized regarding various provisions and importance of RTI Act. The DC had claimed that general public was being made aware by district administration by giving due publicity to the act in various meetings conducted at district level, tehsil level and village level. But the Deputy Commissioner Kistwar also failed to provide the details and location of such meetings
Responses filed by almost all the 22 Deputy Commissioners of J&K before High Court, are vague and misleading. Copies of all these responses are lying with Early Times |
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