The
Indian Express: Pune: Friday, 10 April 2015.
When it comes
to implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the performance of the
central government units seems to be mixed. The recent report of the central
information commission (CIC) shows that while a majority of the institutions
have been proactive in addressing the RTI queries, a few like the offices of
the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and Bank of Maharashtra have a high
rejection rate.
Two central
institutions the Center for Advanced Computing (CDAC) and the beleaguered
Hindustan Antibiotics Limited have failed to file their RTI annual returns
which draw strictures from the CIC.
The annual
report of the CIC takes into consideration the performance of various central
government institutions, including banks, in implementing the RTI Act. The
report takes in account the number of RTI applications received by the
institutions, the number of applications rejected and the number of applicants
who made first and second appeals. It is mandatory for every public information
officer (PIO) to submit the details to the CIC.
An analysis
of the report shows that in Pune, there are 12 non-military establishments
which come under the purview of the CIC. Film and Television Institute of
India, the offices of the chief commissioner of income tax, director
investigations of income tax and National Chemical Laboratory are some of the
institutions mentioned by the CIC in its report.
CDAC and
Hindustan Antibiotics have been pulled up by the CIC for not submitting their
annual returns. While it was an administrative lapse on the part of Hindustan
Antibiotics, officials of CDAC say it was responsible for their failure to
submit the annual report. “We receive around 300-400 RTI applications a year,
and around 30-40 of them go for first or second appeals. This year, we failed
to submit the annual report,” said a senior official of CDAC. The reports have
to be sent by the end of March.
When it comes
to rejection, by far the highest number of applications have been rejected by
the office of the chief commissioner of income tax. Of the applications
received, 44.8 per cent were rejected. Similarly, 43.2 per cent of the RTI
applications received by the Bank of Maharashtra were rejected. The office of
the Chief Commissioner of Central Excise and Customs, Pune, rejected 24.4 per
cent of the applications, while the office of the director general of income
tax rejected 23.2 per cent of the applications. Indian Institute of Science
Education & Research (IISER), Film and Television Institute of India and
other institutions did not reject any RTI application.
In a written
reply, the Bank of Maharashtra stated that the applications were dealt based on
their merit and provision of the Act. “Adequate systems are in place to ensure
that the authorities dealing with RTI matters are well versed with the
provisions of the Act. CPIO & Appellate Authorities are designated at each
zone, as well as at the head office,” the reply read.
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