Tuesday, August 26, 2014

RTI activists take to street for quicker replies

Times of India: Coimbatore: Tuesday, 26 August 2014.
A group of 100 members of RTI Activists' Association held a protest to complain about the lethargy of RTI officers at Gandhipuram on Monday evening. They said public information officers failed to provide information on their petitions filed more than two years ago.
Under the Right to Information Act, public information officials should maintain all records and provide data sought by people within a reasonable time. "As these officers delay answering our petitions unnecessarily, we are appealing to the government to take action and let us know why we are being denied information we seek," said M Selvaraj, head of the association.
The members of the association have filed several RTI applications with the corporation, commissioner's office and taluk offices. More than 60 petitions have remained unanswered.
"According to the act, the information should be given within 30 days. When that did not happen we appealed to the senior officials who could again take 30 days' time to respond. But they have not responded either. We also appealed to the state-level officers. These officers also seem to delay the process," said Manoj Arun, a member of the association. "At least, let us know the reason behind this delay," he added.
The association said shortage of officers might be a reason for the delay. "Where 10 officers should be appointed only four have been appointed," he said.