Rising
Kashmir: Srinagar: Thursday, 03 December 2015.
The Jammu and
Kashmir State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), G R Sufi today said that
there was no interference from the State government vis-à-vis providing of
information to the people under Right to Information (RTI) Act.
“The
commission has passed orders against police and other several sensitive
departments and institutions, which have been directed to provide the
information to the RTI applicants,” Sufi said while addressing a programme
“Meet the Eminent” organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC),
Library Resource Cell and Directorate of Students Welfare of the Central
University of Kashmir (CUK) at its Nowgam-I academic block.
Sufi admitted
that there have been complaints about misuse of the Act. “There have been
instance wherein the Act has been misused by certain people, but overall the
Act is a powerful, but liberal tool to empower a common citizen,” he said.
While sharing
his personal experience during the days of his studies in the Jawahar Lal Nehru
University (JNU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and working in different
capacities in several government departments, Sufi asked the students to put in
their best efforts and work hard to fulfill their aspirations.
While
speaking about his days in school and college, Sofi said he started working in
department of Food and Supplies soon after passing class 5th and then passed
the classes’ upto 10th through private exams.
Sofi further
stated that owing to political unrest in the state, he was forced to go outside
state for further studies. “Due to political turmoil, PG degree would be
completed in 4 years even,” he said. “There are people who say that turmoil
started in late 80’s but let me tell you this started since 1947”.
Later a panel
discussion was held which was moderated by senior journalist and
Editor-in-chief, Rising Kashmir, Dr Syed Shujaat Bukhari and panelists were
Prof. Khurshed Ali, Prof. Sayeed Fayyaz Ahmad, Dr. Shuja’at Bukhari, Prof. Noor
Ahmad Baba, Z. G. Mohammad.
Meanwhile
Bukhari and eminent columnist, Z G Muhammad hailed the university initiative
and complimented Sofi for attaining the heights. They also deliberated up on
the comparative usage of nomenclature of the Shahr-e-Khas and downtown in
Kashmir in their observations.
Sofi in his
address said he would love to call old city as “Sher-e-Khaas” which was
countered by Bukhari saying that they should not shy away from calling it
“Downtown”. “When we talk about downtown, it is an internationally loaded term.
In every country, Downtown is the place which a tourist wants to see in the
first preference,” he said.
Vice-Chancellor,
Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Controller of
Examinations, Dr. Nazir Ahmad Gilkar, DSW Director, Dr. Fayaz A Nikka, faculty
members of other departments and students were also present on the occasion.
Earlier,
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir while felicitating Sufi asked the
students to take a cue from these eminent personalities and carve out a similar
niche for themselves in the society.
Registrar,
Prof. Muhammad Afzal Zargar thanked the panelists for their participation in
the maiden programme. While welcoming the guests, he said that such functions
would be conducted at regular intervals and people, who have carved a niche for
themselves in their field, would be invited to share their personal experiences
to encourage the students.
Prof.
Khurshed Ali, Prof. Sayeed Fayyaz Ahmad and Prof. Noor Ahmad Baba also spoke
about their association with Sufi. Assistant Prof. Department of Education, Dr.
Sayid Muhammad Bhat conducted the programme proceedings.
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