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Lack of RTI awareness in AP, TS: Jannat Hussain
.JPG "Lack of RTI awareness in AP, TS: Jannat Hussain")
The Chief Information Commissioner Jannat Hussian on Friday said there was lack of awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the Telugu-speaking States even nine years after the Act was brought in.
Hyderabad: The Chief Information Commissioner Jannat Hussian on Friday said there was lack of awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the Telugu-speaking States even nine years after the Act was brought in.
He said RTI was in force in at least 90 countries and that showed how important the right was for civilians across the world. He felt that government should take measures to create awareness about the Act and its importance. State Information Commissioners C Madhukar Raj, Vijay Babu and M Ratan expressed concern that a key provision in the RTI Act 2005, was not yet complied by majority of the government institutions and offices.
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According to Section 4 (1) (b) of the Act, “Every public authority shall publish the particulars of its organisation, functions and duties; the powers and duties of its officers and employees; the procedures followed in decision-making.”
The Commissioners lamented at the government’s apathy in enforcing the penalties it imposes on Public Information Officer (PIOs) for non-compliance of its orders. Information Commissioner Imtiyaz Ahmed said, of the Rs 4.5 lakh penalties he had imposed so far, only Rs1.5 lakh has been realised. As per the Act, once the commission levies penalty on the PIOs, the government should deduct that amount from his/her salary but this was not being done.
Commissioner Lam Thantiya Kumari said while RTI was an excellent tool to get information from various departments there was also scope for mischief as it could be used for settling personal scores with PIOs. Sometimes people seek information that is over 40 years old. Referring to the threats issued by an SI in Srikakulam district to a PIO, she demanded police protection for both PIOs and the RTI activists in some cases. Tanthiya Kumari said even Commissioners also need police protection during visits to districts. She further added though the Act requires that District Monitoring Committees meet once in every three months for review and supervision of the implementation of the Act, they were not being held at all. Apart from the Commissioners, several RTI activists and PIOs shared the success stories, wherein the usage of the Act saved applicants from paying a bribe, or in getting the required service on time.
