The Hindu: Tiruchirapalli:
Tuesday, March 25, 2014.
Workshop in
Tiruchi on Right to Information Act underlines the important provisions of the
Act
The
provisions of Right to Information Act aim at promoting transparency and
accountability in administration and not threaten any official or agency.
It wants to
promote corruption-free governance at all levels, said speakers at the
inaugural of a workshop on ‘Right to Information’ organised jointly by the
Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, TANSSCOPE, and the
Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, here on Sunday.
S. Gopalakrishnan,
Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, who inaugurated the
workshop, said the Act sought to strengthen efficiency in administration.
He underlined
the responsibility of officials in providing information and details sought by
an individual under the Act.
He said that
apart from individuals, even service organisations or associations could seek
information under the provisions of the Act.
S.F. Akbar,
State Information Commissioner, in his keynote address, said the RTI wanted to
empower society with all information so that transparency could be ensured at
every sphere.
No details in
areas involving foreign relations, Defence, and security could be questioned,
he said citing the example of a few petitions filed by prisoners.
He said that
public interest should be guarded at every cost.
S.
Pushpavanam, secretary, Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, explained the
responsibilities of the consumers and their limitations in utilising the
provisions of the RTI.
He said the
non-availability of the postal orders forced consumers to utilise the demand
draft towards fees for seeking information from the central government
departments. But the bank commission for demand draft was more than the draft
value. He suggested that affixing of stamps on the petitions, on the lines of
court fee stamp for State government departments.
He said the
RTI should not be utilised to threaten an official but should focus on seeking
information for some public welfare or interest.
The drafting
of the petitions should, by itself, explain the objective of the queries.
Shailesh
Kumar Yadav, Commissioner of Police, and V.P. Thandapani, Corporation
Commissioner, spoke.
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