Morung Express: Kohima: Tuesday,
February 28, 2017.
In cordial
with the right to information act 2005 India, the Nagaland information
commission was constituted on 14th March 2006 vide govt. order
No.AR-3/GEN-147/2005 on the recommendation of the appointment committee
constituted in term of section 15(3) of the right information act and under the
provision of section 15(1)&(2) the former governor of Nagaland Shyamal
Datta administered the oath of office for greater transparency in public
domain.
The ideology
and its conceptualization was India being one of the most corruptive country in
all levels and to rein in the unrefined corruption this noble idea called RTI.
((Right to information) was put to ordinance and had ratified by all the states
and union territories in the country of India.
The
exhaustive RTI act covers all the public domain that manned by authority
personals/ bureaucrat who are liable to question through RTI appealing
procedure by any organization, NGO, or individual who is a citizen of India if
there be found any discrepancy where, the appellate authority is bound to
furnish in electronic or written statement within 30 days and can re-appeal
within 40 day and 90 days respectively.
However
sadly, it is learnt that the very act becomes a tool of self gratification for
some here in Nagaland where, hundreds of RTI lost its steam in the process
except ACAUT and some righteous social workers/activists who truly protect the
interest of the public.
Here how the
system has be conveniently exploited for self gratification and how it should
be overcome through public debate on the matter.
No wonder
there are some unscrupulous black-sheep who are adversely innovative in
exploiting the loopholes in every system and no exception in the case of RTI as
well who tend to play the part of angel in the garb of sheep clothing had
completely stymied the system that ultimately defeated the very purpose.
The operandy
that played into the core of the system has it that; taking advantage of the
appealability by individual within the ambit of the RTI act 2005, where, many
self interest persons submit their application through information commission
to the appellate authority of a certain department requesting to provide
information for project or appointment or utilization of fund sanctioned etc.
whereas here when pushed to the wall with hard evidences, there comes a lot of
nasty negotiations through coercing the petitioners with certain percentages of
the total amount involved in the case. Thus, thereby the petitioner whimsically
withdrew the petition or humble down to any justification prompted by the
appellate authorities. That’s how most of the RTI application lost its virtue
to the bogus cops.
True, there
are real cops and bogus cops where, an organization like ACAUT who
transparently pursue the case and putting up its finding in public domain
through electronic or print-media exposing the fact and figures to its logical
conclusion is the real cop whereas, hundreds of RTI cases filed by individual
frequently failed to surface in public domain are the bogus cops who, share the
loots with the corruptive authorities.
Remember, a
tool that plough your field also capable of digging your grave called spade and
the very RTI here seems to be behaving adversely like a fence that eats the
crop can be a thing serious concern for the public to ruminate upon.
Nevertheless, it is in the knowledge of many intellectuals and suspects
something amiss but no one likes to create a raucous for no personal gain.
However this mess cannot be entangled with the information commissioner and his
good office for they are licitly following the act and disposing the case as
per the version statement of the petitioner and the appellate authorities.
Therefore, it
is imperative and prudent that the matter be put before the public for
comprehensive debate so as to seal the loopholes with preemptive measure that
will ultimately sharpen the tooth of the RTI or else it’s becoming a toothless
tiger.
However,
please take note that the writer of this article has no obligation to point out
any person or department or has any inclination with any political party or
organization whatsoever nor answerable to any authority therein.
(N.
Haisoyi Ndang :Author, Naga Script & Zeliang customary laws. Lower Bayavu
Kohima)