No RTI signboards yet in Jharkhand, CIC fumes

[ganpat1956]

The Jharkhand State Information Commission (JSIC) has taken a serious view of non-compliance of its directives regarding implementation of the RTI Act.

"It is unfortunate that our directive is not being honoured by senior government officers," Chief Information Commissioner Harishanker Prasad told The Indian Express.

In May, the CIC had found that most offices in the state were yet to display the names and details of public information officers (PIOs) and appellate authorities (AAs). This prompted him to write to all principal secretaries, secretaries, divisional commissioners and district collectors directing them to abide by the Act and display the signboards outside their offices on or before June 15.

On Thursday, the CIC inspected various departments in the Secretariat again and found only the home, planning and industry departments had followed his directive. "The other departments had not done so," the CIC said in a report.

On Friday, the JSIC shot off another letter to the officers along with his report to explain on or before August 8 why they had not yet implemented the Act fully. Asked if the Act empowers him to seek an explanation from the officers, Prasad said, "The central aim is to ensure that the Act is implemented in letter and spirit."

No RTI signboards yet in Jharkhand, CIC fumes - Yahoo! India News