Times of India; Saturday, July 23, 2011,
NEW DELHI: Come September and you can find out whether your favourite restaurant is safe from fire online. Responding to a suggestion by Association of Victims of Uphaar Tragedy (AVUT), the Central Information Commission ( CIC) has asked the Delhi Fire Service to upload information related to fire safety of the buildings.
The fire department will initially be able to upload only new buildings that have been given licences or those that have been renewed in the last one month. The department is expected to disclose the detailed inspection report (on the basis of which a fire-safety certificate is given to the building), the fire-safety certificate and a copy of the measures taken to prevent fire in the building.
In a letter written on Friday, information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi directed the fire service department to provide information in the interest of proactive disclosure. Citing section 4 of the RTI Act, Gandhi said public authorities are obligated to make certain suo motu disclosures to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Commission had received a request from AVUT president Neelam Krishnamurthy who said certain categories of essential documents should be published in public interest.
Giving the order, Gandhi said the "larger concern for the families of the victims is that such an incident is never repeated in the future, placing public safety at a pioneering place of concern".
The fire department will initially be able to upload only new buildings that have been given licences or those that have been renewed in the last one month. The department is expected to disclose the detailed inspection report (on the basis of which a fire-safety certificate is given to the building), the fire-safety certificate and a copy of the measures taken to prevent fire in the building.
In a letter written on Friday, information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi directed the fire service department to provide information in the interest of proactive disclosure. Citing section 4 of the RTI Act, Gandhi said public authorities are obligated to make certain suo motu disclosures to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Commission had received a request from AVUT president Neelam Krishnamurthy who said certain categories of essential documents should be published in public interest.
Giving the order, Gandhi said the "larger concern for the families of the victims is that such an incident is never repeated in the future, placing public safety at a pioneering place of concern".
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