Scoop News: Srinagar: Saturday, August 19, 2017.
State
Information Commission (SIC) conducted a roundtable on the J&K Right to
Information Act-2009 with the officers of the School Education Department, here
today.
The
roundtable was presided over by Chief Information Commissioner, J&K
Khurshid Ahmed Ganai. Director School Education Kashmir Dr G N Itoo, Chief
Education Officers and Principals of DIETs participated in the roundtable.
The Chief
Information Commissioner (CIC) made a presentation on the salient features of
the J&K RTI Act and the Rules. He apprised the participants about the
common mistakes committed by the Public Information Officers (PIOs), First
Appellate Authorities (FAAs) and Public Authorities in general while dealing
with RTI applications.
The CIC
emphasized on the importance of Sections 5, 6 & 7 for the PIOs and Section
16 for the FAAs. The CIC also stated that Section 17 of the J&K RTI Act has
given adequate powers to the SIC to impose penalty and recommend disciplinary
action against the erring PIOs. He also stressed the importance of the
proceedings to be conducted by the FAAs under Section 16 and observed that the
work of the FAAs across all Government Departments and Public Authorities
leaves much to be desired. He stated FAA has to act in a quasi-judicial manner
and give an opportunity and proper hearing to the aggrieved Appellant in terms
of the provisions of the RTI Act and the Rules.
Among other
provisions of the J&K RTI Act, Sections 4, 8 and 11 came under thorough
discussion. The CIC highlighted the importance of Section 4 pertaining to
mandatory and suo-moto disclosure of information by the Public Authorities and
stated that the SIC has extended the last date for compliance under Section 4
to 30th September,2017.
He also
stated that repeat RTIs are not to be entertained and in this regard the
Central Information Commission has also ruled against repeat RTIs as they
result in diverting the limited manpower and financial resources of the Public
Authorities. In this regard, CIC also invited the attention of the participants
to the Supreme Court judgment in CBSE V/S Aditya Bandopadaya & Ors.
The Director,
School Education, Kashmir thanked the CIC for conducting a roundtable for
School Education Department which is recipient of large number of RTI
applications and expressed hope that the guidelines given by the CIC will go a
long way in improving the working of RTI Cells in the School Education
Department. He assured the CIC that School Education Department will also
conduct roundtable/seminars at district level and invite officers of the SIC as
resource persons for training of the officers of the Education Department on
RTI.
The CIC
complimented and thanked the Director, School Education, Kashmir for showing
keen interest and ensuring impressive participation in the roundtable.