Greater Kashmir: Srinagar: Friday, 31 October 2025
The Right to Information
(RTI) Act, 2005, was passed by the then UPA Government led by late Dr. Manmohan
Singh. The Act was not only meant to help citizens to obtain information from
government departments but also to ensure transparency and good governance. In
the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, there was a separate RTI Act in
force. But, after the abrogation of Article 370 and the downgrading of the
State into a Union Territory, the Central RTI Act, 2005 became applicable.
Initially, there was limited awareness about filing RTI applications and the
process of obtaining information. However, some activists worked tirelessly to
popularize the Act in J&K. Among them were Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Late
Syed Nasrullah Shah, Shahnawaz Sultan, and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool. They formed
the group namely J&K RTI Movement for awareness of RTI Act-2009.
I used to visit the office of Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a noted activist from J&K, where people from far-flung areas would come with their grievances. Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, then Chairman of the J&K People’s Forum, guided citizens on how to file RTI applications, First Appeals, and Second Appeals. For general public, seminars and awareness camps were organized across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, where Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, an excellent orator, would deliver informative lectures on the RTI Act, encourage people to file RTI. While filing Public Interest Litigations (PIL) in the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, official information from departments is mandatory to submit. On the advice of Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, I began filing the RTI applications to concerned departments, both within the valley and outside J&K, to gather information. Over time, I collected valuable data, carried by local dailies of J&K and even national papers of India. Not only applicants used to visit my office, even Public Information Officers (PIOs) approached me for guidance to reply RTI applications and Ist Appeals.
The RTI Act is not merely a law but a powerful tool in the hands of ordinary citizens. On 4th November 2023, the then Chief Secretary of J&K invited few activists, including me, to attend a meeting at Banquet Hall Srinagar along with the Heads of Departments (HODs), to seek suggestions for better implementation of the RTI Act-2005. He, after hearing from activists, assured timely replies, proper training of Public Information officers, and online RTI portal for applicants for speedy disposal.
Though the RTI online portal was later introduced, but most Public Information Officers appointed by the departments lack the competence or authority to effectively handle applications. Many are non Gazetted officials who are unable to direct their superiors to release information or impose penalties for delays. It’s obvious, information is often delayed. The other issue is departmental websites remaining outdated, with incomplete or missing records due to multiple reasons. When departments failed to provide information, the applicants used to file a First Appeal before the Appellate Authority (FAA), who often responds vaguely, claiming the Public Information Officer supplied “all available information.” Most appellants are not even heard during the First Appeal.
The next and only remedy is to file a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi, since J&K no longer has its own Information Commission. Unfortunately, thousands of second appeals are pending at the CIC, with cases taking almost a year for disposal. If the Government of J&K is genuinely committed to accountability and good governance, it must strengthen RTI implementation. Public Information Officers PIOs must be properly trained, and all departmental information should be made available on official website. Both officials and citizens need the required awareness on the RTI Act. Some departments still deny to share information, misusing Supreme Court rulings as an excuse which is incorrect. Only sensitive information is exempted. Even Police, Paramilitary, and other departments are bound to disclose information under RTI Act, 2005.
For good governance, RTI is a fundamental right of every citizen, and bureaucrats have no authority to deny information. The government should establish a special RTI bench for J&K to ensure prompt disposal of Appeals. Public knowledge is crucial, it is not just the duty of RTI activists but also of the administration to educate both citizens and officials about the Act. Jammu and Kashmir continues to face issues of embezzlement, bribery, favoritism, use of substandard materials in public works, and corruption across departments. If implemented effectively, the RTI Act 2005 can be a transformative tool to restore transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.
(M. Shuja, Senior Journalist & Human Rights Activist)
I used to visit the office of Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, a noted activist from J&K, where people from far-flung areas would come with their grievances. Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, then Chairman of the J&K People’s Forum, guided citizens on how to file RTI applications, First Appeals, and Second Appeals. For general public, seminars and awareness camps were organized across both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, where Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, an excellent orator, would deliver informative lectures on the RTI Act, encourage people to file RTI. While filing Public Interest Litigations (PIL) in the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, official information from departments is mandatory to submit. On the advice of Late Syed Nasrullah Shah, I began filing the RTI applications to concerned departments, both within the valley and outside J&K, to gather information. Over time, I collected valuable data, carried by local dailies of J&K and even national papers of India. Not only applicants used to visit my office, even Public Information Officers (PIOs) approached me for guidance to reply RTI applications and Ist Appeals.
The RTI Act is not merely a law but a powerful tool in the hands of ordinary citizens. On 4th November 2023, the then Chief Secretary of J&K invited few activists, including me, to attend a meeting at Banquet Hall Srinagar along with the Heads of Departments (HODs), to seek suggestions for better implementation of the RTI Act-2005. He, after hearing from activists, assured timely replies, proper training of Public Information officers, and online RTI portal for applicants for speedy disposal.
Though the RTI online portal was later introduced, but most Public Information Officers appointed by the departments lack the competence or authority to effectively handle applications. Many are non Gazetted officials who are unable to direct their superiors to release information or impose penalties for delays. It’s obvious, information is often delayed. The other issue is departmental websites remaining outdated, with incomplete or missing records due to multiple reasons. When departments failed to provide information, the applicants used to file a First Appeal before the Appellate Authority (FAA), who often responds vaguely, claiming the Public Information Officer supplied “all available information.” Most appellants are not even heard during the First Appeal.
The next and only remedy is to file a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi, since J&K no longer has its own Information Commission. Unfortunately, thousands of second appeals are pending at the CIC, with cases taking almost a year for disposal. If the Government of J&K is genuinely committed to accountability and good governance, it must strengthen RTI implementation. Public Information Officers PIOs must be properly trained, and all departmental information should be made available on official website. Both officials and citizens need the required awareness on the RTI Act. Some departments still deny to share information, misusing Supreme Court rulings as an excuse which is incorrect. Only sensitive information is exempted. Even Police, Paramilitary, and other departments are bound to disclose information under RTI Act, 2005.
For good governance, RTI is a fundamental right of every citizen, and bureaucrats have no authority to deny information. The government should establish a special RTI bench for J&K to ensure prompt disposal of Appeals. Public knowledge is crucial, it is not just the duty of RTI activists but also of the administration to educate both citizens and officials about the Act. Jammu and Kashmir continues to face issues of embezzlement, bribery, favoritism, use of substandard materials in public works, and corruption across departments. If implemented effectively, the RTI Act 2005 can be a transformative tool to restore transparency, accountability, and public trust in governance.
(M. Shuja, Senior Journalist & Human Rights Activist)
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