PU has received 1,951 RTI applications this yr so far

Times of India: Chandigarh: Thursday, December 24, 2015.

Panjab University (PU) has received 1,951 RTI applications in 2015 till date. This was stated by PU RTI cell superintendent Bachan Singh at an RTI workshop for PU public information officers (PIOs) held here on Tuesday. Of 1,951 applications, 170 appeals were filed before the first appellate authority and 10 second appeals were filed before the second appellate authority, he added.

PU had received 1,557, and 1,813 RTI applications in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

While addressing the workshop, state information commissioner, Haryana, Urvashi Gulati said the RTI had brought accountability in the administration. "The information is to be supplied in time-bound manner as it exists in the official records. Under the RTI Act, the office of the PIO is not expected to compile and tabulate the information," she added.

Addressing the PIOs, the first appellate authority under the RTI Act at PU and PU Registrar Col G S Chadha asked the PIOs to expeditiously provide the information as soon as the RTI application is received in the office. "The PIOs should not wait to meet the deadline of 30 days for supplying the information," added Col Chadha. He also stressed on the importance of putting maximum information on the PU website under the voluntary disclosure so that the people do not have file the RTI applications for seeking those information.

Secretary to the vice-chancellor Dr Col (Retd) P S Sandhu said that RTI Act should not be treated as a threat rather it should be taken as a tool to provide the information and maintain transparency.