RTI Act has not helped much: Chief Justice

[ganpat1956]

Though it is expected to help root out corruption, it is being misused

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Information continues to be inaccessible

Not bringing common man into the agenda can cause widespread protests

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan has said that though the Right To Information (RTI) Act is expected to help root out corruption, it is being misused like most other Acts. "We thought it would help to root out corruption, but only a negligible portion of the Right To Information Act has helped," Mr. Balakrishnan said while inaugurating a national seminar on `Indian Economy: Historical Roots and Contemporary Development Experience,' organised by the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) here on Saturday. Information continues to be inaccessible despite the RTI Act, the Chief Justice added.

The Hindu : National : RTI Act has not helped much: Chief Justice

[maneesh]

I believe in democracy a period of 1 1/2 year is very small. It will take little more time to percolate down the grass root level.
More so RTI act is in the form of a punitive measure. And there has to be way of improving the functioning and accessing of information. If RTI is a stick then we must have carrot.

[Latha Ramesh]

Ganpat Ji and Maneesh ji,

Can you explain in what context Chief Justice has mentioned that "RTI is being misused"?

[ganpat1956]

Hello Latha,
Sorry I am unable to provide any answer to your question. None of the press reports available indicate that the H'ble CJI has indicated anything specific in this regard. In his address, the the CJI has dealt with a number of issues like globalisation, Nandigram, school drop-out rate of children etc, including RTI and has emphasised the importance to be given to common man in solving the country's problems. The CDS, Trivandrum's web-site has also not been updated beyond Mra.29, 2007.

[maneesh]

Dear Latha
There are a numbers of applicant of RTI who are seeking information to settle personal vendetta. They repeatedly asking information for a particular person and particular issue. The motive behind such request at times are to settle score with some one.
I believe the true objective is to help people in bureaucracy to realize their job and do their best and serve the people at their maximum.

[Latha Ramesh]

If a particular person/issue is been targetted repeatedly, does the concerned officer has rights to reject the application based on these grounds?
Again the code of conduct and morality comes into play, right?

[apaul]

Each application has to be dealt with independently...however, a precedence may be used to reject the same!
On this forum, i want to point out one issue, which is repeatedly being discussed in the context of RTI Act. In the minds of almost everyone, the word "corruption" is linked with "government departments". But what is probably being overlooked is that "corruption" is rooted in the society, government included. The only explanation which comes to my mind is that because it is the common man who is most affected by what a government does or doesn't do. The corruption in the private sector does not affect the common man directly, hence no discussion for RTI for private sector.

In addition to this, there is a flip side too. I am a witness to so many cases where the government servants are being harassed by the public for not "co-operating" with them in setlling their cases! Earlier there used to be complaints leading to vigilance proceedings. But now recently, RTI applications are being received regarding the work of that officer, since whatever a government servant does, he/she does so in public interest! I am not trying to shield the govt servants, but only trying to emphasise that RTI is a very important and powerful tool. It is for us how we (citizens and the govt) use it. here code of conduct and morality does come into play, as latha has already stated.

[Anuj Dhar]

I think the RTI has been a success so far. At least it is making people aware of their right, as citizens of a democratic country, to seek information from the authorities. This is a big thing when you consider the fact that feudalistic mindset still prevails in India.

My personal experience tells me that the CIC is overloaded with work. Their staff strength needs to be increased.

[maneesh]

With every passing year the work load of CIC will increase. As of now a few citizens are using RTI.
Staff strength of CIC needs to be planned for a more longer period of time.

[abhijeet]

RTI Act is successful at least in one respect. Previously it was very very difficult to get any response from the Govt. officials; but if any body submits any application under RTIA, then it is expected that he would get some sort of reply of his query. And afterwards possibility of receiving desired information also lies with two more chances (1st appeal & 2nd appeal/complaint ) . Is it not any improvement of the situation ?

[kushal]

Yes, I would say! That is indeed a sea change worth noticing.

[karira]

Originally Posted by abhijeet

RTI Act is successful at least in one respect. Previously it was very very difficult to get any response from the Govt. officials; but if any body submits any application under RTIA, then it is expected that he would get some sort of reply of his query. And afterwards possibility of receiving desired information also lies with two more chances (1st appeal & 2nd appeal/complaint ) . Is it not any improvement of the situation ?

Indeed a VERY BIG improvement !

[wagh7]

dear sirs,

I would like to tell that just now people started using RTI Act 2005. Till now you leave about un-educated but even most educated were not knowing the Right to information act, 2005 and how to use it.

It is definately true that most of the administrative Heads are misusing many clauses of RTI act and hiding many information. As these administrate heads donot want to disclose any office functioning, continue their corrupt practices in many ways.

It will be very funny to say that even now some PIO's in India telling file notings (note sheets) are secret document even after giving several guidlines from CIC.

Most miserable thing that applicants and thier near and dears were harrashed by administrative heads in one way or other which does not leave any proof. We even say that such administrative Heads will give life threats to some of the applicants and information seekers. It is really most miserably to mention that some of the administrative heads are in criminal way distroying the information asked.

So, we can say more and more punishments should be there on information providing authority who misuse their official powers, so that no body should dare enough to do such actions like destorying the records, giving wrong information, threating the applicats etc.,

rakatkam.

[ganpat1956]

Originally Posted by rakatkam

Most miserable thing that applicants and thier near and dears were harrashed by administrative heads in one way or other which does not leave any proof. We even say that such administrative Heads will give life threats to some of the applicants and information seekers. It is really most miserably to mention that some of the administrative heads are in criminal way distroying the information asked.

Dear Shri rakatkam,
The RTI Act and its implementation are still in their nascent stage. Difficulties are bound to crop up in obtaining the information. But definitely it does not warrant such a generalised, sweeping allegations. May I point out here that such unfair criticisms do not go with the stated principles and objectives of this portal.

[dr.a]

Originally Posted by abhijeet

RTI Act is successful at least in one respect. Previously it was very very difficult to get any response from the Govt. officials; but if any body submits any application under RTIA, then it is expected that he would get some sort of reply of his query. And afterwards possibility of receiving desired information also lies with two more chances (1st appeal & 2nd appeal/complaint ) . Is it not any improvement of the situation ?

with the crocked group it fail..

[dr.a]

Actually if in a govern department all the staff are sharing the profit then if becomes difficult to get support by these question because what ever you will enquirer you will be provided with manipulating the information and as because the First Appeal lated body is the head of the organization/ department , so he will also used to be away in support to an outsider. Such situation are common with MCD, DDA, Electricity & Police licensing offices..

Also I had an experience with injustice to myself by PIB where Three clerk popularly known are taking Bribe in the process to issue PIB card with an amount up to Rs 25000/- and I along with ther senior (now with other ministry) moved up to a Very Very High Ranking officer in MOI&B also ex-press sect to Former Honorable president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. In my appeal I proved with fact but till today I failed to bring any action on those clerk totally.

So ultimately to fight with the system , one has to move to the Court..

Dr A

[wagh7]

Ganapathi ji,

I did not have any intention of discoraging any body, or huarting any body, but I wanted to explain that how the act has been misused by some of the administrative heads.

rakatkam.

[Anuj Dhar]

oh, it has been a great help. In times to come CIC is going to become a very powerful institution. Because its decisions will reflect public interests and public wud be much pleased.

[sidmis]

The RTI Act is a feeble act despite what it promises to accomplish.
The Preamble of the Act set out a very big agenda on this Sunshine Act.

Like "containing corruption", "Transparency in public life", "Accountability", "informed citizenry", "Governance" etc. etc.. etc...

In reality we find nothing of sorts happening.

The Deterrence built into the act are too week to accomplish any of the above stated objectives.

This coupled with insensitive attitude & poor administration from those who ought to make this act successful have left this Act in complete shambles.

Everytime someone shouts something negative about this act we take a dig at him saying that the act is still in it's infancy.

So Let's hope this infant grows up sooner rather than later.

SIDMIS

[taurus]

Firstly it is too early to judge the efficacy of the Act. Secondly, like any other Act this can also be misused - but that is no reason to dump it or label it as useless.