DNA: Mumbai: Friday, May 04, 2018.
Making the
RTI more effective and ensuring that information is readily available will be
the topmost priority, said Sumit Mullick, the newly appointed Chief Information
Commissioner. Mullick took his oath of office on Thrusday.
He also said
that levying of penalty as an effective deterrent will be considered so that
officers do not delay the process of providing information. RTI activists and
complainants have often complained that penalty is not levied despite RTI Act
having penal provisions.
On the
present consternation on the issue of the rank of a chief information
commissioner, Mullick said that the post was equivalent to that of a Supreme
Court judge as per the Act. "It is not a Constitutional post, but a
statutory one. But the Act does state that the chief's post is like that of a
Supreme Court judge. Will have to look more into the debate to comment on
it," he said.
Mullick also
said that poor record management in public authorities, which the annual report
of the commission pointed out, was a cause of concern. "Record keeping is
a problem and so is disposal of files. There is lot of scope for improvement
through effective use of technology," he said.
Non-implementation
of suo motu disclosure of information something that the preamble of the RTI
Act states according to the new chief was largely due to non-application of
mind or due to mal-intentions of officers or information not being located.
On the
pending second appeals, which is often cited as a way to kill the RTI Act,
Mullick said that he will look at ways to reduce the appeals that are nearing
6,000 at his bench.
THE
APPOINTEMENT
Sumit
Mullick, retired as the chief secretary of Maharashtra. He took the oath for
the post that has been lying vacant for nearly a year after his predecessor,
Ratnakar Gaikwad retired. During this period, a public interest litigation was
filed besides demand from citizens to fill up the post soon.
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