Public authorities still do not comply with RTI rules: CIC

The Times of India: New Delhi: Sunday, November 04, 2012.

Chief Information CommissionerSatyananda Mishra on Saturday lamented that public authorities have failed to make crucial pro-active disclosures despite seven years of the implementation of the RTI Act.

Referring to section four of the RTI Act which mandates public authorities to make proactive disclosures and organize records within 120 days of enactment of transparency law in 2005, Mishra said these statutory provisions haven't been complied with even after seven years since the transparency law came into effect.

Mishra was speaking at the 11th All India Lokayukta Conference organized by Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin here.

Section four of the RTI Act mandates all public authorities to maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed, publish all relevant facts while formulating important policies, provide reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions and publish within 120 days 17 point information about the authority. Terming the RTI Act as a defence mechanism against corruption, Mishra said, "Well kept records and indexing" would further help in disseminating information and curbing corruption at all levels.

Eminent RTI activist and member of the National Advisory Council Aruna Roy stressed on the need to look forward and bring other supportive legislations, including the Whistleblowers' Bill, Grievance Redressal Bill among others, to curb corruption.

The Central Vigilance Commission supported setting up of an association of Indian anti-corruption agencies to check graft. "We will have to join hands together to fight the multi- faceted monster called corruption. My proposal would be to set up an Indian Association of anti-corruption agencies and make it a workable solution," Vigilance Commissioner R Srikumar said during the conference.

"Such an association will help in sharing data base. This will be a networking association. It will be useful in sharing of information responsibly," the VC said. Speaking on the role of vigilance and investigating agencies, he said there are lots of deficiencies in their functioning. "We are walking a lonely path. Hardly do we join hands together. Our record in nailing corrupt is very dismal and it is responsible for calling public apathy," he added.