Indian Express: Vijayawada: Tuesday,
September 20, 2016.
There is no
sanctity to Government Order 66 (G.O.No. 66) and officials cannot stay absent
during hearing by using this G.O., said State Information Commissioner (SIC) P
Vijaya Babu on first appellate authorities who did not turn up before the
commission but sent their representatives.
The angry
commissioner opined that G.O. is equal to a waste paper which was brought under
dark by some irresponsible IAS officers who do not have any respect towards
Right To Information Act and to the India Parliament where the act was made.
IAS officers
did not have any right to amend the act by bringing such government orders, he
observed.
Vijaya Babu
also made clear that Endowments department is in the ambit of Right to
Information (RTI) Act. Officials from Endowments Department cannot say that
they do not come under RTI. The said department in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and
several other states is working under RTI. Andhra Pradesh Endowments department
is no exception, he said.
In a hearing
session at the state guest house here on Monday, Vijaya Babu conducted hearing
for 50 cases where both complainants and representatives of appellate
authorities from Krishna, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam and West Godavari attended.
The session will be held for two more days for the remaining districts.
During the
session, Vijaya Babu suggested that in
all government departments, sincere officials should exert pressure on higher
authorities, especially the corrupt officials.
“Civil
society must react and exert pressure on officials through RTI Act. Public
response will implement the act effectively. Then only corruption will come
under control. It will also put pressure on authorities to attend to their
duties,” Vijaya Babu told Express.
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