Times
of India: New Delhi: Sunday, 07 February 2016.
With an
estimated 10% of RTI applications filed by government employees, the government
is planning to issue strict instructions that personnel matters should be
resolved internally and not be allowed to escalate. A number of appeals and
complaints seeking information on matters like transfers, arrears, salaries and
others land at the doorstep of the Central Information Commission after having
failed to elicit a response from the administration.
Government
sources said that the issue came up in a recent meeting between the chief
information commissioner R K Mathur and DoPT secretary Sanjay Kothari.
"There was agreement that the government should issue orders asking
government departments to address queries by their employees, and if needed
counsel them. If an employee is seeking information on his service matter,
salary, pension, or other issues impacting him, he has every right to get it,''
a source said.
The present
state of affairs however is very different. Complaints and appeals rarely get
addressed by the first or second appellate authority (which are both in the
department itself) and end up at the CIC. According to RaaG study on RTI
2011-2013, an assessment of information sought by applicants revealed that 49%
information asked should have been made public proactively, without anyone
applying for it. Another 18% was such that it should have been provided to the
applicant proactively without his or her having to apply for it.
The
commission has about 34,469 appeals and complaints pending for hearing that has
led to delay in hearings. With about 3,000-3,500 new cases coming up every
month the CIC is under severe pressure to address the large pendency that has
accumulated for a number of reasons.
.JPG)
.JPG)
