After going through large number of Audit Reports I have observed that RTI records like recept of Fee,RTI Annual Returns and fre supply of large number of pages are noit audited by Audit & Inspection teams of AG.I have made a representation to AG Punjab ( Appended below).I will request members to forward the same to other Accountant general of their state.


R K Garg


Date:- 13th June 2010

The Principal Accountant General ( Audit) Punjab & UT,
Sector 17
Chandigarh

Sub:- Non performing Public Information Officer and Audit of RTI Records

Sir,

Since the implementation of RTI Act in 2005 I have procured many Audit Reports of Chandigarh UT Administration .Though all the acts making an impact on working of the Offices have always been taken care but I have not seen even a single Audit & Inspection Report where records of RTI have been Test Audited.

Though RTI Act 2005 is full fledged act but I feel like all other acts it cannot fulfill its objectives in isolation and assistance from Audit and Inspection Authorities ( AG Offices) is imperative.


Through these lines I bring the Following to your kind notice for inserting of provisions in Norms & Audit Planning during Audit and inspection of UT so that RTI compliance becomes easy and transparent

1. In UT itself there are many CPIOs who do not provide the requisite information within the Section 6 of RTI Act. I have experienced that they start working on RTI Applications only after 25 days have gone. It is visible as many of my applications are transferred only after 25 days By the time the intimation for additional fee reaches me it has already crossed mandatory 30 days. No doubt I am benefit as I get almost hundreds of pages free of cost from many departments. But ,since implementation of RTI Act in 2005 they have not improved as same set of mind contuse to work but some how this does auger well with me as due to delayed supply of information the very purpose of RTI becomes futile. The same old habit of not working at all or under performing continues. This Non performance of CPIOs also results into great loss to revenue and drain on public resources.


2. In many cases the Public Information Officers send intimation regarding additional fee to RTI applicant on estimate basis .But at the time oif supply of information they do not find requisite number of photocopy .In such cases either they supply less number pages( usually they avoid lesser number) or they supply irrelevant pages to complete the numbers. This leads to unnecessary appeals and complaints against PIOs for Refunds of excess fee deposited


3. Invariably Annual Returns under RTI Act are filed and records of individual applicants is also kept in all offices .I hope some departments are making a list of all applications received in register.
4. Prayed: As such it is requested that records of govt offices including the RTI files, Annual returns. processing and additional fee receipts and number of pages of information supplied should be test checked and reconciled.

I hope there is a provision under General Financial Rules according to which a recovery can be made from staff member where loss to revue is cause due carelessness in working. The cost towards free supply of photocopies for delay in sully may be recovered from the concerned PIO.

If the above is implemented than this will be a great help to all applicants and Appellate Authorities as the number of first and second appeal will decrease drastically and income from Additional fee can be used for improving working conditions in offices.

Since the above practice with PIOs prevails in all Govt Offices a copy of this communiqué is being sent to Chandigarh Administration, AG Haryana ,Haryana Govt and Controller & Auditor General of India for wider implementation.

An early action is requested for


Yours truly,



( R K Garg)
# 3328 Sector 27D
Chandigarh-160109
M 9872692400


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