Times of
India: Ahmedabad: Friday, May 10, 2019.
The
Gujarat high court on Thursday issued notice to the state government and the
state information commission in response to a PIL seeking the facility for
citizens to file online applications for information under the Right to
Information (RTI) Act.
Petitioner
Sandip Munjyasara has demanded that every state government department should be
asked to maintain web portal so that applications and appeals under the RTI
laws can be filed online. He has said that the central government departments
keep such web portals, and citizens can seek information by filing applications
online. This is a provision made under the law.
The
PIL has prayed for directions to the state authorities to design and develop
websites or to provide such facilities to the citizens so that they can obtain
information from each public authority through electronic mode. This is also
required because people do not know addresses of the authorities where they
need to communicate.
The
petitioner argued that the provision of website would only help in achieving
the aim of the RTI laws of bringing transparency in administration and curbing
corrupt practices. Moreover, the provision that the public authority has to
prepare a quarterly report on the activity undertaken to deal with application
under RTI laws and to place the report online will also help in achieving these
goals.
The
HC has sought reply and posted further hearing after summer vacation.
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