Effective Implementation of RTI

Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Tuesday, 27 January 2015.

On March 20th this year, the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information Act (RTI) will complete its six years of its enactment. As this transparency law is enforced in J&K from last so many years, the Public Authorities (Government / Semi Govt organizations) continue to abnegate the responsibilities which have been conferred upon them under the provisions of State RTI Act. The recent directions by  Governor N N Vohra to the state bureaucracy on effective implementation of Right to Information Act (RTI) particularly ensuring proactive disclosure through official websites has not only uplifted the morale of RTI activists but the said intervention during the present political scenario would definitely strengthen State Information Commission (SIC) for its effective working. The upright and honest officials in other transparency institutions like State Vigilance Commission (SVC) and Vigilance Organisation too feel elated by Governor’s intervention.

How previous Govt violated J&K RTI Act?

The section 23 of the state RTI law lays emphasis upon the Government to create RTI related awareness programmes across the state and especially among the disadvantaged and backward communities , but the Government lead by Omar Abdullah miserably failed to do so in spite of the fact that the same Government came up with this progressive law in the state. The previous Government didn’t bother to even publish RTI related booklets or other such material which could have helped the public to know the provisions of this law. The basic awareness programmes on RTI too were not  conducted by the Government in six long years. They miserably failed to implement section 4 (1) (b) of J&K RTI Act 2009 which insists upon the Public Authorities to make proactive disclosure of its orders, circulars, selection lists, merit lists, payment of compensation, relief, subsidy, seniority lists, beneficiary lists under various state and centrally sponsored schemes and other related information. It is worthwhile to mention that the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) G R Sufi  has shot several letters to the Government showing his serious concern for non cooperation of the Government towards implementation of various provisions of J&K RTI Act 2009. On the other hand the Government always exhibited somewhat aberrant behavior in spite of the fact they were under legal obligations to fulfill their duty vis a vis RTI implementation. Pertinently the J&K Government had to undertake proactive disclosure under section 4 (1) (b) of State RTI Act within 120 days from the day of enactment of RTI Act, but it is now more than 2000 days (6 years aprox)  instead of 120 days and the authorities continue to violate this act.

Governor’s Intervention:

The Governor N N Vohra’s  intervention ensuring  good governance  at this point of time when the state is undergoing a political stalemate is seen as an encouraging step by the civil society. The Governor has directed the administrative Secretary of General Administration Department (GAD) to ensure voluntary disclosure by the Government departments without any delay. He directed the Secretary GAD to ensure that every department discloses the requisite information as required under the RTI Act under section 4 (1) (b) and the same to be put on their official  websites and updated regularly. Governor also directed that all the departments should also undertake an immediate review of Property Statements of Immovable Assets which were filed by the officers for 2013-14 and initiate action against those who failed to file the returns.

Conclusion:

As people of Jammu & Kashmir have witnessed an abdication of responsibility on part of the previous Government especially towards implementation of RTI, curbing corruption and ensuring good governance. It is hoped that the State Administration takes the Governor's directions very seriously and starts working more  effectively, with full responsiveness. Above all if there is a possibility of formation of new Government in J&K in the near future, they must continue to uphold the recent directions of the Governor so that our state gets rid of nepotism, corruption, mis-governance once for all.