‘Mindset of officers a hurdle in implementing RTI Act’

[ganpat1956]

Bathinda, August 30

Rajan Kashyap, chief information commissioner (CIC), Punjab State Information Commission, today said a particular mindset of officers of the state had been creating problems in the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in proper manner.

Addressing a press conference here today, Kashyap said some officers did not carry the attitude that they were answerable to the queries of the people and this was the main obstacle in the implementation of the RTI Act. Also, on the other hand, people were not much aware about their rights under this Act, which had given them vast powers.

He said the report on the functioning of the Punjab State Information Commission would be submitted in the next session of Vidhan Sabha. He had made a recommendation to the state government to launch a scheme under which the people could be made aware of their rights under the RTI Act.

The commission had disposed of 1,739 cases out of total 2,356 cases, which the commission had received so far. About 40 officials of the government had been penalised for refusing to give information to the applicants. The CIC said number of benches of the commission would be raised to nine.

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab

[colnrkurup]

These are all the typical excuses or the mindset of the SIC himself. How can the mindset of the Departmental oficers can create problem for the SIC ? I would defenitely like to know as to has the penalty impossed by him in all the 40 cases been realised ? If it is done there could be absolutely no problem in implementing the RTI Act. So long as the SIC perform his duties as per the Act the people will learn what they need to know. What stop the SIC in coming out as to what exactly is the problem faced by him from the departmental officers.