SIC seeks proactive disclosure

[ganpat1956]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Information Commission (SIC) has urged the government to instruct public authorities, as defined under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, to go in for proactive disclosure of information relating to them.

In its annual report to the government, the commission points out that even though proactive disclosure is mandatory under the Act, many public authorities are not doing so. Such disclosure, the commission feels, would reduce the number of requests for information. Keeping in view the cost and time elements involved in publishing and updating information through the print media, it is advisable to immediately publish the information on the official web sites of the government and the organisations concerned. Organisations can be encouraged to develop their own web sites and provide information through them. Funds available under e-governance may be profitably utilised for the purpose, the report says.

Call to publish lists

The commission also recommends publication of lists of public authorities under each administrative department in order to remove any ambiguity in the matter. Under the RTI Act, public authorities include institutions and non-governmental organisations which are controlled or are substantially financed by the government. However, some institutions such as cooperative banks, aided schools and colleges, management of religious institutions and places of worship, libraries, etc., which are either controlled or are substantially financed by the government, are under the impression that the provisions of the RTI Act are not applicable to them, the commission says.

It reminds the government that though many public authorities have designated assistant public information officers, public information officers and appellate authorities, some are yet to do so. This is especially so in the case of non-governmental organisations substantially financed by the government such as private aided colleges and schools and cooperatives.
The commission recommends designation of more than one public

information officer in major offices such as corporations and municipalities, Directorate of Health Services, Directorate of Education, Directorate of Public Instruction, Police Department, etc. to receive and dispose of requests under the RTI Act. The commission also asks the Government to strengthen the General Administration Department.

The Hindu : Front Page : SIC seeks proactive disclosure

[colnrkurup]

It is a pitty that the SIC Kerala is allowed to keep on spreading disnformation and choose Press Conference to urge government the things Government already done. I wish the SIC should have atleast read Government Circulars II and II No.77000/CDN-5/06/GAD dated 30-10-2006 flashed in Kerala Goverment web site also before urging the state government in Press Conferences to give instructions to public auithorities. This circulars of government contain one of the exemplary "defenition on Public Authority". Now he has also come out with another advice to immediately publish the information in the official web sites of the government etc., etc., May Irequest all of you to open "< http://inforkerala.org.in> (web site of SIC Kerala) and see its plight and contrast with the web site of CIC. I wish the SIC, Kerala stop spreading disinformation and attend to at least complaints pending with him since more than 18 months - some which are complaints against Revenue authorities of the State discarding the "Oral" and "written" orders of the SIC praying him not to make the RTI a laughing stock.