East Mojo: Agartala: Saturday, 28 May 2022.
In the last two decades, the Right to Information Act, 2005, has empowered citizens to ask questions to those in authority. But in Tripura, it seems that the power of the RTI is being severely compromised with.
For over a year, the post of State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC), who acts as the final redressal body for the grievances of RTI activists, has been vacant. And this has caused severe hardships to activists in a state where publicly-available information is scarce.
If any authority deliberately holds up or prevents the flow of information under the Right to Information Act 2005, the RTI activists can move to the SCIC’s office seeking his intervention. But in Tripura, there is no one to ‘intervene’, leaving several important RTIs in a quandry.
Purnendu Bhushan Datta, a retired Deputy Director of Tripura Social Welfare and Social Education department and now an RTI activist, claimed the state government’s reluctance in appointing the SCIC is an attempt to ‘escape from its responsibilities’.
“The RTI was enacted to ensure that governments remain accountable to its people. But, the way the government of Tripura is trying to shy away from its responsibilities, it is clear that it is not an accountable government,” he said. Datta, who is waiting for a number of cases to be heard by the SCIC, also said concerned officials ignore RTI petitions as they know there are no higher authorities to summon them.
“More than three cases of mine are pending for hearing. There is no higher body to settle the cases. The departments are trying to shy away from their responsibilities. When lower courts pass a judgment, people have the liberty to move to higher courts, but here we are being stopped from accessing information at the first level,” Datta pointed out.
Echoing the same, noted RTI activist from Tripura Rana Pratap Nath Bhowmik alleged that absence of SCIC is an active shield for the state government to conceal corruption.
“The government is afraid of getting its corruption exposed before the public. Their fear prevents them from making this simple appointment,” he pointed out.
Speaking about one of his RTI petitions, he said, “In one of my petitions, I sought information regarding an illegal land allotment. The state government, in lieu of a minimal amount, leased a total of 6.5 Kani land to a private hospital. This is a gross violation of Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960. It has been one year, and I am still waiting for the replies. Before leaving the post, former SCIC Akhil Kumar Shukla conducted a few hearings, but he left the state, so nothing materialised.”
Datta and Bhowmik are not alone. People like Jiban Das Gupta and Thaichak Reang also file RTI petitions on a regular basis whenever they feel the government is trying to hide some crucial information at the cost of people.
According to sources, thousands of stockpiled RTI petitions are waiting for an authority to clear them in the SCIC office.
As per the existing norms, Chief Minister of the state, Leader of the Opposition and Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly approve the appointment for the SCIC post after a thorough deliberation over the panel or shortlisted list of eligible candidates.
Unfortunately, after former Tripura DGP AK Shukla quit the job after his brief stint of four to five months, the authorities appointed no one.
According to official sources, the office of state information commissioner has good staff strength and draw a hefty salary every month. “On an average, the state exchequer spends Rs 5 lakh per month on the staff. But, the expense turns futile as services meant for the public are on a halt”, said an official who wished not to be named.
Sources also said, initially, a panel incorporated the names of shortlisted candidates and sent the file to the concerned authorities for approval. Over a year has passed, but the government failed to hand over the responsibility to anyone.
As per the central guidelines, states like Tripura may get three information commissioners: two shall assist the chief information commissioner for smooth and effective hearing of the petitions.
Some sources also claimed that the state government was trying to avoid the appointment in an effort to save its expenditure. “The SCIC’s salary is very high, thus, the government is trying to avert this recurring expenditure that largely acts in contrast to the government’s interest,” a top source in the state administration said, requesting anonymity.
In the last two decades, the Right to Information Act, 2005, has empowered citizens to ask questions to those in authority. But in Tripura, it seems that the power of the RTI is being severely compromised with.
For over a year, the post of State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC), who acts as the final redressal body for the grievances of RTI activists, has been vacant. And this has caused severe hardships to activists in a state where publicly-available information is scarce.
If any authority deliberately holds up or prevents the flow of information under the Right to Information Act 2005, the RTI activists can move to the SCIC’s office seeking his intervention. But in Tripura, there is no one to ‘intervene’, leaving several important RTIs in a quandry.
Purnendu Bhushan Datta, a retired Deputy Director of Tripura Social Welfare and Social Education department and now an RTI activist, claimed the state government’s reluctance in appointing the SCIC is an attempt to ‘escape from its responsibilities’.
“The RTI was enacted to ensure that governments remain accountable to its people. But, the way the government of Tripura is trying to shy away from its responsibilities, it is clear that it is not an accountable government,” he said. Datta, who is waiting for a number of cases to be heard by the SCIC, also said concerned officials ignore RTI petitions as they know there are no higher authorities to summon them.
“More than three cases of mine are pending for hearing. There is no higher body to settle the cases. The departments are trying to shy away from their responsibilities. When lower courts pass a judgment, people have the liberty to move to higher courts, but here we are being stopped from accessing information at the first level,” Datta pointed out.
Echoing the same, noted RTI activist from Tripura Rana Pratap Nath Bhowmik alleged that absence of SCIC is an active shield for the state government to conceal corruption.
“The government is afraid of getting its corruption exposed before the public. Their fear prevents them from making this simple appointment,” he pointed out.
Speaking about one of his RTI petitions, he said, “In one of my petitions, I sought information regarding an illegal land allotment. The state government, in lieu of a minimal amount, leased a total of 6.5 Kani land to a private hospital. This is a gross violation of Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960. It has been one year, and I am still waiting for the replies. Before leaving the post, former SCIC Akhil Kumar Shukla conducted a few hearings, but he left the state, so nothing materialised.”
Datta and Bhowmik are not alone. People like Jiban Das Gupta and Thaichak Reang also file RTI petitions on a regular basis whenever they feel the government is trying to hide some crucial information at the cost of people.
According to sources, thousands of stockpiled RTI petitions are waiting for an authority to clear them in the SCIC office.
As per the existing norms, Chief Minister of the state, Leader of the Opposition and Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly approve the appointment for the SCIC post after a thorough deliberation over the panel or shortlisted list of eligible candidates.
Unfortunately, after former Tripura DGP AK Shukla quit the job after his brief stint of four to five months, the authorities appointed no one.
According to official sources, the office of state information commissioner has good staff strength and draw a hefty salary every month. “On an average, the state exchequer spends Rs 5 lakh per month on the staff. But, the expense turns futile as services meant for the public are on a halt”, said an official who wished not to be named.
Sources also said, initially, a panel incorporated the names of shortlisted candidates and sent the file to the concerned authorities for approval. Over a year has passed, but the government failed to hand over the responsibility to anyone.
As per the central guidelines, states like Tripura may get three information commissioners: two shall assist the chief information commissioner for smooth and effective hearing of the petitions.
Some sources also claimed that the state government was trying to avoid the appointment in an effort to save its expenditure. “The SCIC’s salary is very high, thus, the government is trying to avert this recurring expenditure that largely acts in contrast to the government’s interest,” a top source in the state administration said, requesting anonymity.
.JPG)
.JPG)
