The Hindu: Vijayawada: Monday,
September 26, 2016.
Right to
Information (RTI) Act Commissioners Lam Tantiya Kumari and P. Vijaya Babu have
said some officials are non-cooperative and acting leniently in the
implementation of the Act.
The
Commissioners have felt that the heads of some districts and the Appellate
Authorities are not taking measures for spreading message on the importance of
the Act which is aimed at preventing corruption.
Violating RTI
Act will be treated as crime and criminal cases can be booked against violators
and can be prosecuted, the Commissioners have warned. Mr. Vijaya Babu, while
receiving petitions during his recent visit to the city, said some officials
issued GOs on RTI Act in the State which were not valid. The Commissioner said
the Appellate Authorities were deputing their subordinates for hearings which
was not correct. “The Appellate Authorities cannot depute their staff for
arguments and the concerned should attend the hearings,” he said.
“Some
bureaucrats are deliberately neglecting the Act and ignoring the petitioners.
It is the duty of the officers to maintain transparency while implementing the
government schemes to uphold the reputation of the government,” said Mr. Vijaya
Babu.
Clearance
of petitions
Ms. Tantiya
Kumari said as many as 12,000 petitions were received and of them 10,000 were
cleared. But, it has come to the notice of the Commission that some officers
were reportedly demanding money for giving information to the petitioners, she
said while attending a programme at Nuzvid in Krishna district.
“Only those who do mistakes fear about the RTI
Act. All the departments come under the Act and the officers should ensure that
RTI Act is implemented property,” the Information Commissioner said. “If a
mandal court serve summons, the officer will present promptly. But, when the
RTI directed the officers to submit some information during hearings, the
officer is deputing some lower rung staff which reflects the negligent attitude
of the bureaucrats towards the Act,” they remarked.
Some
bureaucrats are deliberately neglecting the Act and ignoring the petitioners
It has come
to the Commission’s notice that a few officers are demanding money to part with
information.
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