The
Hindu: New Delhi: Monday, 29 June 2015.
Public
authorities are expected to respond to RTI applications within 30 days but such
alacrity in sending replies is rarely witnessed.
In a record
of sorts, the office of Vice President Hamid Ansari has responded within two
days to an RTI application seeking to know the reason for his absence from Yoga
Day celebrations held here last Sunday, saying he was not invited for the
event.
Public
authorities are expected to respond to RTI applications within 30 days but such
alacrity in sending replies is rarely witnessed.
Responding to
an RTI query dated June 22, filed by one Paras Nath Singh of Mallapuram, the
Secretariat of the Vice President, in a letter dated June 24 said, “No
invitation was received for the event ‘Yoga Day’ observed at Rajpath on June 21.”
Mr. Singh
said he received the response within four days of him sending the RTI
application.
Former Chief
Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra said other public authorities should
learn from the VP’s office and respond to RTI pleas within time.
“It’s a rare
thing to see public authorities answering a query within two days. I think it
should be welcomed,” he said.
Former
Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi also said top offices like those of
the President, Prime Minister and Vice President should set examples for other
public authorities.
“It is good
that they (VP’s office) had responded to the RTI application within two days
but they should try to answer bulk of applications within a week,” he said.
Mr. Ansari’s
absence from Yoga Day celebrations was questioned by senior BJP leader Ram
Madhav which created a controversy.
Minister of
State for AYUSH Sripad Naik had said Mr. Ansari was not invited as Prime
Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest at the Rajpath event and inviting
Vice President to it would have breached protocol. The row got a burial after
Mr Naik tendered apology over the controversy.
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