Growing concern over ‘dilution’ of RTI Act

The Hindu: Vijaywada: Thursday, 30 April 2015.

Replying to a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has said that it has no information about the cost incurred on Mr. Modi’s wardrobe.

The information was sought by applicant Rohit Kumar who argues that while it has been admitted that the cost of his wardrobe was met by the government, records of the exchequer’s money are not made available. If this is the scenario at the PMO level, one wonders what fate the RTI meets in the states.

“Worse, the Public Information Officers (PIOs) appointed by departments to furnish information to RTI applicants don’t even bother to reply in most cases,” says B. Ramakrishnam Raju, convenor of United Forum for RTI Campaign (UFRTI)

Taking exception to what they call attempts to dilute this important law, the RTI Commissioners in the State met the Governor last week with a complaint that the PIOs have not been doing a fair job of dissemination information.

“A retired IAS officer filed an RTI query on important aspects related to the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) which has not been responded to yet. The delay in bifurcating the Commission is resulting in pendency of cases,” says Mr. Raju.