GreaterKashmir.com; Tuesday,02 Aug 2011.
Srinagar, Aug 1: Chief Information Commissioner, G R Sofi today said many big wigs in Jammu and Kashmir were not in favor of proactive use of the RTI Act in the state.
“The RTI Act was in infancy in J&K and many big wigs are not in favor of its proactive use,” Chief Information Commissioner said on the valediction of the three day workshop “Training for Trainers” for using J&K RTI Act 2009 organized by Common Wealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi in collaboration with J&K RTI Movement, Srinagar here. The programme was supported by Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung Fur Die Freiheit, a statement issued by J&K RTI Movement said.
Sofi said the Commission was in the process of releasing Urdu translated version of the Act. He underlined that as per Section 6-2, the PIO had no authority of asking any sort of personal question from the applicant so much so even the reason for seeking information should not be asked as per the Law.
Sofi informed the participants that he had written to the GAD for pursuance of Section 4 of the Act, but very little had been done in this regard. Sofi said that as of yet there was no budgetary provision for the implementation of the RTI Act and also for the State Information Commission. He advised the activists to lobby with the government representatives with regards to high fees, etc.
Sofi said that he was happy to find dedicated RTI activists in the state and advised them to work in a self less manner for the upliftment of the downtrodden and advised them to work together.
Earlier, the participants interacted with G R Sofi and highlighted few problems related to J&K RTI 2009 implementation like alleged high handed behavior of Public Information Officers, high fee in J&K ie Rs 50 when in other parts in India it is just Rs 10.
JK RTI Movement Convener, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, argued that when the per- capita of the state is much low than the national average, this is absolute injustice with the citizens of the state.
The participants also highlighted the issue of non implementation of Section 4-1 of J&K RTI relating to proactive disclosure of the information, non availability of the Act in local languages etc.
“The RTI Act was in infancy in J&K and many big wigs are not in favor of its proactive use,” Chief Information Commissioner said on the valediction of the three day workshop “Training for Trainers” for using J&K RTI Act 2009 organized by Common Wealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi in collaboration with J&K RTI Movement, Srinagar here. The programme was supported by Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung Fur Die Freiheit, a statement issued by J&K RTI Movement said.
Sofi said the Commission was in the process of releasing Urdu translated version of the Act. He underlined that as per Section 6-2, the PIO had no authority of asking any sort of personal question from the applicant so much so even the reason for seeking information should not be asked as per the Law.
Sofi informed the participants that he had written to the GAD for pursuance of Section 4 of the Act, but very little had been done in this regard. Sofi said that as of yet there was no budgetary provision for the implementation of the RTI Act and also for the State Information Commission. He advised the activists to lobby with the government representatives with regards to high fees, etc.
Sofi said that he was happy to find dedicated RTI activists in the state and advised them to work in a self less manner for the upliftment of the downtrodden and advised them to work together.
Earlier, the participants interacted with G R Sofi and highlighted few problems related to J&K RTI 2009 implementation like alleged high handed behavior of Public Information Officers, high fee in J&K ie Rs 50 when in other parts in India it is just Rs 10.
JK RTI Movement Convener, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, argued that when the per- capita of the state is much low than the national average, this is absolute injustice with the citizens of the state.
The participants also highlighted the issue of non implementation of Section 4-1 of J&K RTI relating to proactive disclosure of the information, non availability of the Act in local languages etc.
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