Pune: In a first, SIC hears prisoners’ RTI appeals through video conferencing

Indian Express: Pune: Friday, 25 September 2015.

In a first of its kind initiative in the country, the Maharashtra Prisons Department conducted video conferencing of its inmates with State Election Commissioner (Pune Bench) Ravindra Jadhav to hear their appeals filed under the Right to Information Act (RTI).

A press release issued by Meeran Borwankar, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons Department), has stated that 19 prisoners from Pune (Yerwada Central Prison), Kolhapur, Nagpur, Mumbai, Thane and Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai appeared for their hearings on September 15 and 16.

The prisoners had filed RTI applications to seek information from different government departments. On not getting satisfactory information under the RTI Act, they filed appeals before the information officers concerned. Again, on not receiving the desired information, they filed second appeals with the state information commissioner.

Being prisoners, it was not possible for them to attend hearings on their RTI appeals before the information commissioner. So, the officials of the Prisons Department took the initiative and with the help of officials from the Directorate of Information and Technology and the State Information Commissioner’s office, the video conferencing facility was set up.

Hearing in as many as 37 appeals filed by prisoners was held. “This is the first such initiative in the country. Because of it, the prisoners could appear for the hearing on their RTI appeals. It not only saved manpower of the prison and police departments, but also brought transparency in the administrative process,” stated the press release.

It also said the initiative had played a major role in ‘digital movement’, which was started by the Prime Minister.

Jadhav said as the SIC bench had video conferencing facility activated, it would not require much for them to hear second appeals. “In case of Yerawada jail, I will hear the appeals of prisoners through video conferencing, and the public information officers (PIO)s and appellate authority (AA) will come to my office. In case of other districts, the officers would participate in the video conference from the district collectorate’s office,” said Jadhav, adding that he would instruct his office to club second appeals of prisoners on a single day which would allow speedy disposal of the appeals.