Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Tuesday,
February 14, 2017.
In absence of
office bearers in State Information Commission (SIC), officials have started to
give cold response to applications filed by information seekers, under Right to
Information Act.
SIC is
presently functioning without any office bearers, as all of them have completed their term and the state
government so far has not appointed new members and the CIC.
Information
seekers said that in absence of office bearers in SIC, they are not able to
file appeals. “Some officials in government offices are exploiting the
situation. They deny information or conceal the facts we need. Sometimes,
applications are thrown in dustbins,” said Muhammad Yaseen, an information
seeker.
He added that
he had filed an application under RTI Act in Flood and Control Department. “I
am not satisfied with the reply provided by the officials. There is lot of
information missing in the reply. My remedy, under law was to approach SIC
after getting unsatisfactory reply from the second appellate authority,” he said.
The
information seekers said that keeping SIC defunct has defeated the very purpose
of RTI Act in J&K state. “SIC, an appellate body to enforce right to
information and ensure compliance of State Right to Information Act, continues
to remain virtually defunct, as the commission besides being headless is also
without the two member commissioners. It has encouraged some officials to deny
information under the Act,” they said.
The
commission is a three member autonomous body which w as headed by Chief
Information Commissioner (CIC) with two other commissioners. The ‘undue delay’
in appointment of new SIC and other two members has left the commission
completely defunct. The former CIC, GR Sufi, completed his term on February 29,
last year while the posts of both State Information Commissioners are still
vacant.
The need to
appoint new CIC and other two commissioners, according to RTI activists, is
need of the hour so that people could use RTIAct effectively.
“It literally
means that you have law in books but not applicable on ground. The present
regime in its election manifesto had promised transparency. This law has helped
lot of people to resolve their issues,” said Sheikh Riyaz of Kathidarwaza.
He added that
that law has empowered the common man.
“Ordinary
people feel empowered by RTI. Several scams have been unearthed in RDD.
Government officials were made to pay back embezzled money into Government
treasuries in Chadoora and Khansahib blocks in Budgam,” he said.
“Poor and
deprived people sought information about the expense incurred on CM's chopper,
which was not possible earlier. Candidates dropped by PSC got selected in KAS.
SKIMS doctor Dr Reyaz Dagga who was shown failed in MD exam passed with flying
colours after he used RTI. Assets of KAS, IAS officers were made public,” he
added.
However, he
said that some lacunae and failures are also the part of seven years
achievements.
Renowned RTI,
Raja Muzafar said that undue delay in appointment of new office bearers is
“unfortunate.”
“After
retirement of State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) G R Sufi and other two
members, State Information Commission (SIC) has become defunct and this is
creating a big hurdle for implementation of RTI Act. Lots of cases are pending
before Information Commission. We appeal Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her
immediate intervention so that these vacancies are filled as soon as possible,”
he said.
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