Centre thinking of legislation on Public Records Act

[ganpat1956]

BANGALORE: After the Right to Information Act, the Centre is considering a legislation on the Public Records Act to prevent wilful destruction of government records to bring about greater transparency, a top official said on Friday.

Such a legislation is necessary to bring in increased transparency and accountability, Karnataka Chief Information K K Mishra said at the workshop: "Right to Information Act and Beyond" organised by Press Institute of India here.

Right to Information should not restrict itself to seeking and getting information but lead to transparency of procedures and norms as part of the reforms process, he said.

It is an "involved citizenry, the media and the courts which can turn RTI as an important weapon."

In Karnataka, in the last two years after RTI Act came into force, there were 25 cases where fines have been imposed for non-compliance of the Act.

The maximum fine the Information Commission can impose is Rs 25,000, Mishra said.

Centre thinking of legislation on Public Records Act-Bangalore-Cities-The Times of India

[colnrkurup]

I do not know as to how the media consider this as a new move. The system of destruction of old records already in vogue even from British Raj in most of the government departments,. Life is laid down for each type of records on expiry of which it is destroyed by a Board or an Oficer. Ater destruction he has to furnish a certificate that "following documents (full details are tobe given) are destoryed by burning in my presence" The desruction certificate containing full particulars of the records destroyed is maintained for ever so that every records from its date of origin till its destruction is traceable. I donot knowas towhat more is tobe added ? Are theytrying to introduce some DESCRETIONARY POWERS in between to enable the corrupt officials to get the records of their dislike destroyed while they are in power ?