The Hans India: Andhra Pradesh:
Wednesday, 22 July 2020.
Activists
request CIC P Ramesh Kumar to ensure transfer of the 11,000 appeals and
complaints belonging to the State of Andhra Pradesh languishing before the
Telangana State Information Commission
The
members of the 'United Forum for RTI Campaign- AP' and other civil society
members congratulated Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of Andhra Pradesh, P
Ramesh Kumar, on Tuesday and submitted a few recommendations on immediate
issues to be considered and resolved for strengthening the implementation of
the RTI Act in the State.
The RTI
activists including the UFRTI Campaign-AP co-conveners Chakradhar Budha,
Srinivas Goud, Emmanuel Dasari, member B Ramakrishna Raju and others organised
an online meet of the activists across the State on Tuesday on the theme 'Civil
Society-Immediate issues for Chief Information Commissioner (AP)'s perusal' and
made a few recommendations to the Chief Information Commissioner. Later, the
activists sent a letter of recommendations to the Chief Information
Commissioner, based on the outcome of the meeting.
The
activists requested the CIC to see the transfer of the 11,000 appeals and
complaints belonging to the State of Andhra Pradesh languishing before the
Telangana State Information Commission. They said that there are complaints
that have not heard since 2010 in them.
They
observed that the pending of the appeals and complaints for years amounts to an
abdication of responsibilities of the Information Commission and violation of
rights accorded to applicants under the RTI Act. They requested the CIC to take
proactive measures for the speedy disposal of cases, which will expose
corruption, arbitrariness in decisions taken by the previous regimes and also
help citizens to access their rights.
The
activists also urged the CIC to take measures to publish an annual report of
the Information Commission from at least now and publish a white paper on the
current status. They also asked the Chief Information Commissioner to conduct
hearings in a transparent manner and treat the appellants and complainants with
dignity and respect. They also asked him to shun the practice of the
commissioners talking to the officials on the appeals or complaints filed
against them in the absence of appellants and complainants, which is leading to
suspicions of them being in hand gloves with the erring officials.
The RTI
activists also asked the CIC to pressurise the government to appoint a
high-power committee and district-level committees to monitor RTI
Implementation and see the government offices voluntarily disclose information
as stipulated by Section-4 of the RTI Act.
They
also demanded that the CIC direct the State government to take steps to ensure
that RTI applications are received online in the State. They requested the CIC
to call for two separate online meetings immediately with the District
Collectors and civil society representatives to understand the issues of
concern in RTI Implementation at their end.
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