news details |
|
|
| Need for harmonising conflict of interests : Dr Bhan | | Make RTI a public movement: Sufi to PIOs | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 18 : Chief Information Commissioner, J&K State, G. R. Sufi today said that a citizen has a right to seek information from a public authority for the service which is held by him or which is held under its control which includes inspection of work, documents and records, taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents and taking samples of material under the Right to Information Act.
Sufi was addressing a workshop for PIOs under the RTI Act here today, organized by Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) J&K Regional Branch and J&K State Information commission.
Secretary, GAD, Shiekh Mushtaq Ahmed, State Information Commissioner, Prof, S. K. Sharma, Secretary, IIPA, J. B. S. Johar, Former Advocate General, D.C. Raina and PIOs of the State attended the workshop. Emphasizing for making Right to Information a public movement, Sufi asked PIO's to supply correct and complete information within the specified time to any person seeking information under the RTI, 2005.
Elaborating on right to information, Sufi said information is implicitly guaranteed by the Constitution.
However, with a view to set out a practical regime for securing information, the Indian Parliament enacted the right to Information, providing a powerful tool to the citizens to get information from the Government as a matter of right.
This law is very comprehensive and covers almost all matters of governance and has the widest possible reach, being applicable to government at all levels, Union, State and local as well as recipients of government grants.
Chairman, J&K Regional Branch IIPA, Dr. Ashok Bhan in his presidential remarks said that RTI Act unequivocally emphasizes that an informed citizenry and transparency of information are vital to the functioning of democracy and also to contain corruption and to hold Government and its instruments accountable to the citizens of the State. but it also recognizes likelihood of a conflict in practice in revelation of information with other public interests including efficient operation of the government, optimum use of limited fiscal resources and the preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information.
The Act harmonizes these conflicting interests while preserving paramountcy of the democratic ideal. Democratic ideal of right to information thus stands at a higher pedestal but there is also a case for harmonizing the conflicting interests.
The PIOs must, therefore, respect the right of citizens to information.
Expressing concern over the hijacking of this sacred Right by some vested interests, Dr. Bhan said that J&K Regional Branch of the IIPA shall be happy to play meaningful role in generating public awareness about the RTI by organizing more such programmes in Srinagar and other parts of the State.
In the second session, the resource persons who made their presentations include Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, Senior Advocate, Prof. V. K. Kapoor and Prof. K.L.Bhatia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
