Times of India: Chennai: Monday,
March 24, 2014.
The Tamil
Nadu State Information Commission's (TNSIC) reluctance to use the video
conferencing facility is inconveniencing outstation RTI petitioners who are forced
to travel to the city for a hearing each time.
In 2011,
TNSIC had launched a video conferencing facility in Teynampet mainly for RTI
applicants from the districts to appear for hearings from their respective
collectorates.
However,
activists say that the video conferencing facility is not functional because of
the lack of interest of the officials. RTI applicants from Dharmapuri,
Coimbatore and Tuticorin districts are bearing the burden of this, as they have
to spend more time and money to make personal appearances to the forum in
Chennai.
N Bhaskharan,
67, a resident from Pollachi, who came to TNSIC for a hearing said: "How
can they expect senior citizens like us to come all the way to Chennai?
Earlier, video conferencing facility was available at Coimbatore collectorate
but the forum is now insisting that we appear in person."
Bhaskharan
said people end up spending more than Rs 2,000 for travel, food and stay for
each hearing. "There is also an increase in the denial of information
under the RTI Act. Further the commission is disposing appeals almost nine
months after filing of the application."
State chief
information commissioner K S Sripathi recently said they do not use video
conferencing as it is time consuming. "It is seen that we can only dispose
a few cases through video conferencing every day while more appeals are
disposed during personal hearings. So we prefer the latter."
Siva Elango,
president of NGO Satta Panchayat Iyakkam, who has appeared for several TNSIC's
hearings said the commission should introduce live streaming of its proceedings
"There are several complaints of commissioners abusing applicants. Live
telecast of the proceedings will help bring transparency."
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