RTI violation proves costly for 120 PIOs

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As reported by —iGovernment Bureau
http://www.igovernment.in/site/rti-violation-proves-costly-for-120-pios/
RTI violation proves costly for 120 PIOs


The Central Information Commission in India has penalised over 120 public information officers (PIOs) for not providing information under Right to Information Act of 2005.


Published on 4/15/2008 3:02:00 PM
New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) in India has penalised over 120 public information officers (PIOs) for not providing information under Right to Information Act of 2005, imposing a penalty amounting Rs 13 lakh until March 2008.

Disclosing this at the seminar on Right to Information Act 2005 organised by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (Assocham), the Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah stated that over Rs 5 lakh penalty has been recovered of the guilty PIOs out of the total imposed penalty.

He clarified that the full penalty could not be recovered as more than 100 PIOs, accused of not providing information under the Act, have moved various courts against the CIC orders.

Habibullah said that the Commission would become more proactive to take stern action against PIOs that refuse to provide information to those who have sought.

Also, the Commission has asked all government departments and public authorities to put their policy decisions on their respective website.

“With this, the public can access the information from the government and public authorities without even fulfilling the required applications,” he said.

Habibullah, however, said that use of the information act has exceeded the public expectations as everybody is asking for relevant information under the Act.

He added that the government has not been able to keep a rapid pace with it and is therefore under heavy pressure to provide information within 30 days as provided under the Act.

The CIC also went on to the extent of saying that public has become more demanding and asking for any sort of information which has built up even a case for contempt and if the flow continues, the Commission would move and file a contempt case with relevant bodies.

The Chief Information Commissioner admitted that publicity and awareness among public about Right to Information Act has yet to be percolated as a large section of people are not adequately aware of it in the absence of adequate publicity campaign.

Interestingly, he said that in the rural segment, particularly people below poverty line (BPL) are much more aware about the right to information act as nearly 10 per cent of such a lot in the countryside is making use of this Act to obtain relevant information from public authorities.

Habibullah said that the government machinery is learning to get used with the Act as its enactment was done only in 2005 and it is because of this reason that sometimes, the dissemination of information takes time beyond 30 days as provided in the Act.

Seeking public participation to cooperate with the government, the the Chief Information Commissioner urged the masses not to seek those information that have no relevance as it would ease out the pressure on the government.

Speaking at the seminar, Assocham Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Suman Jyoti Khaitan offered the facilities of Assocham in consultation with NGOs to popularise the salient features of the Right to Information Act.

He further said that in doing so, a larger section of society would gain out of it as the Act would bring about a revolution in India in public participation with government for good governance.