RTI applicants accuse PIOs of delaying information
RTI applicants accuse PIOs of delaying information
Published at April 27, 2018 03:55 AM 0Comment(s)594views
http://risingkashmir.com/news/rti-applicants-accuse-pios-of-delaying-informationIrfan Yattoo
Srinagar:
Applicants seeking information under Right to Information (RTI) act 2009 on Thursday accused Public Information Officers (PIOs) of various government departments of having no knowledge about the core objectives of the act, its clauses.
The applicants said there is a threat to the Right to Information in the state and it would die of its own if the stakeholders do not act on time.
Chairman J&K RTI Foundation, Irfan Banka told Rising Kashmir that representatives of government seem to be unaware about the law.
“PIOs are not replying to applications within a period of 30 days and even some of them provide misleading information,” he said.
He said there are PIOs who hardly know any difference between the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Act and the Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) which is a matter of concern.
“RTI Act 2009 and J&K PSGA 2011 are two different Acts, but the government officials are unaware of it and hence are passing bogus orders,” Banka said.
While quoting few examples from the RTI replies of some application from Handloom Department J&K, Jammu with number DDH/RTI/3184/3604 reads “the information sought by the applicant is not available in the records as most of the official record was destroyed in the flash floods of September 2014.”
Banka said, ironically floods occurred in Kashmir only, but the reply from Jammu has cited the reasons of floods, and have maintained that they have no information on record.
“It is a matter of concern that PIOs are still quoting floods as a reason for non-availability of information,” he said.
Another RTI applicant said that every time government officials cannot say that their PIO’s are not aware because of lack of training.
He said PIOs are playing tricky games with applicants and they are getting encouraged as the commission is not imposing penalties on such officers.
Applicants pitched for a need to impose penalties and issue an order making it mandatory for all PIOs to go through the RTI Act.
They requested the government and State Information Commission to take cognizance of the issue, adding that they should take necessary measures for the implementation of the law in the state.
Chief information Commissioner Khurshid A. Ganai told Rising Kashmir that the applicants have a right to appeal before the first appellate authority.
He said that if a PIO is denying any information he has to site a reason if some information is not worth to share.
“If an applicant can’t get the reply within 30 days, they can appeal to next senior officer who is called first appellate authority or directly to the commission,” he said.
The applicants said there is a threat to the Right to Information in the state and it would die of its own if the stakeholders do not act on time.
Chairman J&K RTI Foundation, Irfan Banka told Rising Kashmir that representatives of government seem to be unaware about the law.
“PIOs are not replying to applications within a period of 30 days and even some of them provide misleading information,” he said.
He said there are PIOs who hardly know any difference between the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Act and the Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) which is a matter of concern.
“RTI Act 2009 and J&K PSGA 2011 are two different Acts, but the government officials are unaware of it and hence are passing bogus orders,” Banka said.
While quoting few examples from the RTI replies of some application from Handloom Department J&K, Jammu with number DDH/RTI/3184/3604 reads “the information sought by the applicant is not available in the records as most of the official record was destroyed in the flash floods of September 2014.”
Banka said, ironically floods occurred in Kashmir only, but the reply from Jammu has cited the reasons of floods, and have maintained that they have no information on record.
“It is a matter of concern that PIOs are still quoting floods as a reason for non-availability of information,” he said.
Another RTI applicant said that every time government officials cannot say that their PIO’s are not aware because of lack of training.
He said PIOs are playing tricky games with applicants and they are getting encouraged as the commission is not imposing penalties on such officers.
Applicants pitched for a need to impose penalties and issue an order making it mandatory for all PIOs to go through the RTI Act.
They requested the government and State Information Commission to take cognizance of the issue, adding that they should take necessary measures for the implementation of the law in the state.
Chief information Commissioner Khurshid A. Ganai told Rising Kashmir that the applicants have a right to appeal before the first appellate authority.
He said that if a PIO is denying any information he has to site a reason if some information is not worth to share.
“If an applicant can’t get the reply within 30 days, they can appeal to next senior officer who is called first appellate authority or directly to the commission,” he said.
irfanahyattoo@gmail.com
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