Times of India: Ahmedabad: Monday, 24 February 2025.
In a significant move, the
Gujarat Information Commission recently issued a comprehensive order addressing
the longstanding non-compliance with the Right to Information (RTI) Act's
proactive disclosure requirements.
State information commissioner Nikhil Bhatt's directive came in response to a complaint that highlighted systemic failures in implementing Section 4 of the RTI Act, which has been in force for nearly two decades.
The Feb 6 order stemmed from a case filed by Dipesh Joshi, of Savarkundla town in Amreli district, who raised concerns about the lack of proactive information disclosure by Shrimati AK Ghelani Madhyamik Vidyalaya and education authorities in Amreli district. Joshi's complaint revealed that despite the RTI Act, many public authorities failed to disclose basic information about their operations, including details about public information officers and organisational structure.
"The culture of withholding information and lack of awareness continues to hamper the effective implementation of the RTI Act," Bhatt noted in his order, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling (writ petition (civil) No. 990 of 2021) that stressed the importance of proactive disclosure and directed information commissions to enforce Section 4 of the RTI Act. Despite this, the compliance remains inadequate due to a lack of awareness and a culture of withholding information, Bhatt noted.
To address these shortcomings, Bhatt mandated several corrective measures. The district development officer of Amreli has been directed to conduct comprehensive training programmes for public information officers, focusing on both the RTI Act and the Gujarat Right of Citizens to Public Services Act 2013. Additionally, all taluka panchayat websites must be updated to include mandated disclosures. "Public authorities will be held more accountable as they are required to disclose their functions, duties and decision-making processes. This can lead to better governance," said Bhatt. Commissioner Bhatt has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against PIOs and first appellate authorities who fail to comply with the RTI Act.
State information commissioner Nikhil Bhatt's directive came in response to a complaint that highlighted systemic failures in implementing Section 4 of the RTI Act, which has been in force for nearly two decades.
The Feb 6 order stemmed from a case filed by Dipesh Joshi, of Savarkundla town in Amreli district, who raised concerns about the lack of proactive information disclosure by Shrimati AK Ghelani Madhyamik Vidyalaya and education authorities in Amreli district. Joshi's complaint revealed that despite the RTI Act, many public authorities failed to disclose basic information about their operations, including details about public information officers and organisational structure.
"The culture of withholding information and lack of awareness continues to hamper the effective implementation of the RTI Act," Bhatt noted in his order, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling (writ petition (civil) No. 990 of 2021) that stressed the importance of proactive disclosure and directed information commissions to enforce Section 4 of the RTI Act. Despite this, the compliance remains inadequate due to a lack of awareness and a culture of withholding information, Bhatt noted.
To address these shortcomings, Bhatt mandated several corrective measures. The district development officer of Amreli has been directed to conduct comprehensive training programmes for public information officers, focusing on both the RTI Act and the Gujarat Right of Citizens to Public Services Act 2013. Additionally, all taluka panchayat websites must be updated to include mandated disclosures. "Public authorities will be held more accountable as they are required to disclose their functions, duties and decision-making processes. This can lead to better governance," said Bhatt. Commissioner Bhatt has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against PIOs and first appellate authorities who fail to comply with the RTI Act.
.JPG)
.JPG)
