The Morung Express: Editorial: Thursday, 14 September
2023.
While the path breaking Right to Information Act (RTI) came into force across the country on October 12 the State government appears to be taking some time to put in place the mechanisms with regard to its implementation which would then give legal rights to citizens in seeking information from the government. One hopes that the 3 member Appointments Committee headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would set in motion the exercise of constituting the mandatory State Information Commission (SIC) as required under the RTI Act without further delay so that the general superintendence, direction and management of the information act itself does not suffer for want of a supervisory mechanism. Designating Public Information Officers in the respective department is one thing but what is required is the constitutionally mandated SIC which is expected to exercise powers autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority.
Further, since the RTI Act is aimed at bringing about transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities it is all the more important to have an independent mechanism such as the SIC in place so as to ensure that the government officials and all public authorities provide high priority to requests for information from citizens. Under the RTI Act the SIC has a duty to receive complaints, power to order inquiry for lapses in disseminating information. The SIC is also mandated to function as a Civil Court and prescribe penalties for Public Information Officers (PIO) failing to perform their duty with regard to providing information in time or for refusing to accept application for information or for giving incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroying information and the like.
Regarding the composition of the SIC it is hoped that the Appointments Committee will do justice by appointing the right people based on the criteria laid out under the RTI Act. Since the office of the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) (who will head the SIC) is equivalent to the Election Commissioner it is important that the person selected should have both knowledge and experience with regard to administration and governance. One name that comes to mind is the incumbent Chief Secretary. With his retirement due soon the State government can utilize his services for another five years or until he reaches the age of 65 years which ever is earlier as is the term of office for the State CIC. Interestingly, Tiwari an IAS officer of 1969 batch from Andhra Pradesh, who is presently Secretary in Department of Personnel and Training, who has been appointed as Information Commissioner would have to seek a voluntary retirement before joining the CIC.
Those campaigning for the implementation of the Act also want public figures such as persons from the media or other civil societies to also constitute the State Information Commission. Here it would not be out of place to suggest that at least one prominent person from the local media should also be appointed to the SIC. One hopes that with the setting up of the SIC the path will be cleared for the effective implementation of the RTI Act.
While the path breaking Right to Information Act (RTI) came into force across the country on October 12 the State government appears to be taking some time to put in place the mechanisms with regard to its implementation which would then give legal rights to citizens in seeking information from the government. One hopes that the 3 member Appointments Committee headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio would set in motion the exercise of constituting the mandatory State Information Commission (SIC) as required under the RTI Act without further delay so that the general superintendence, direction and management of the information act itself does not suffer for want of a supervisory mechanism. Designating Public Information Officers in the respective department is one thing but what is required is the constitutionally mandated SIC which is expected to exercise powers autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other authority.
Further, since the RTI Act is aimed at bringing about transparency and accountability in the working of public authorities it is all the more important to have an independent mechanism such as the SIC in place so as to ensure that the government officials and all public authorities provide high priority to requests for information from citizens. Under the RTI Act the SIC has a duty to receive complaints, power to order inquiry for lapses in disseminating information. The SIC is also mandated to function as a Civil Court and prescribe penalties for Public Information Officers (PIO) failing to perform their duty with regard to providing information in time or for refusing to accept application for information or for giving incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroying information and the like.
Regarding the composition of the SIC it is hoped that the Appointments Committee will do justice by appointing the right people based on the criteria laid out under the RTI Act. Since the office of the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) (who will head the SIC) is equivalent to the Election Commissioner it is important that the person selected should have both knowledge and experience with regard to administration and governance. One name that comes to mind is the incumbent Chief Secretary. With his retirement due soon the State government can utilize his services for another five years or until he reaches the age of 65 years which ever is earlier as is the term of office for the State CIC. Interestingly, Tiwari an IAS officer of 1969 batch from Andhra Pradesh, who is presently Secretary in Department of Personnel and Training, who has been appointed as Information Commissioner would have to seek a voluntary retirement before joining the CIC.
Those campaigning for the implementation of the Act also want public figures such as persons from the media or other civil societies to also constitute the State Information Commission. Here it would not be out of place to suggest that at least one prominent person from the local media should also be appointed to the SIC. One hopes that with the setting up of the SIC the path will be cleared for the effective implementation of the RTI Act.
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