RTI is being misused in the name of public interest: Bhardwaj

[karira]

As reported by PTI in economictimes.indiatimes.com on 2 August 2008:
RTI is being misused in the name of public interest: Bhardwaj - Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

RTI is being misused in the name of public interest: Bhardwaj

NEW DELHI: The Right To Information (RTI) Act is being "misused" in many cases under the garb of seeking information for public interest, Law minister H R Bhardwaj said on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal here, the minister said, "the Right to Information has still not settled and it is being misused in many cases and there are characters who are not interested in RTI getting into it."

"But slowly this law will get settled. It would get over the teething problems and this law will also be strengthened," Bhardwaj said.

Praising the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for disposing of over five lakh cases since its inception, the minister said almost all tribunals are doing a good job. All those matters that can be sent to tribunals without compromising on the quality of justice should be encouraged to be sent to them.

Bhardwaj, however, cautioned that creation tribunal or enactment of laws like RTI alone would not ensure justice, especially for government employees.

"Unless there is a desire and an instinct to give justice to your own subordinates it will not happen. So far as grievance is concerned, it should be resolved within the head of the department or the ministry. There will be lesser litigation if we do that and the government is committed to it," he said.

Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan welcomed the initiatives in the field of service jurisprudence, including the CAT experiment. "It is in the interest of state to address the grievances of the employees so that they can effectively serve the general populace," he said.

[Anil Sood]

They all talking of government employees but what about normal citizens who are denied information by these corrupt govt employees. I am one of those persons who are denied information by law ministry. even secretary(law) do not respond to my emails and letters written to minister are not replied back.