CIC seeks change of Govt officials' attitude CIC seeks change of Govt officials' attitude
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi They resent public demand for 'too much' information for 'too less' a fee: Report
The first annual report of Central Information Commission (
CIC), the final appellate body for the Right to Information (
RTI) Act, has sought a change in the attitude of Government officials for better implementation.
The report, which was tabled in the Monsoon Session of Parliament and would be released at a conference of State Information Commissioners on Tuesday, says that Government servants think that they have a monopoly over records.
Calling for a change of mindset amongst officials in effectively implementing the
RTI Act, the Commission has observed: "An attitudinal change is needed among public officials who still believe that they have a monopoly over records and resent the public demand for 'too much' information for 'too less' a fee."
The report points out that several departments and Ministries, including Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), UPSC, CBI, have sought exemption from the Act. "The Supreme Court (Ministry of Law and Justice) has sought exemption from the Act for any information, which, in the opinion of the Chief Justice or his nominee, may adversely affect or interfere or tend to interfere with independence of judiciary or administration of justice," the annual report has said.
Similarly CBI, UPSC and DMRC have also sought exemption from coming under the purview of the Act on one ground or another. The CBI has wished that it be included in the Second Schedule of the
RTI Act, which grants immunity to intelligence and security organisations of the country. Organisations under the Second Schedule of the Act are not obliged to provide any information to applicant unless they (information) belong to corruption or human rights violation cases.
While the UPSC has asked for exemption from disclosure of information relating to examination and recruitment cases, the DMRC have sought total exemption from the provisions of the Act. The DMRC feels that it has a very tight schedule for Phase II and future phases and handling
RTI applications would unnecessarily burn it with administrative work.
Apart from the exemptions sought, the 2005-2006 report also finds a host of suggestions made by public authorities. Consumer Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, and Mines Ministries amongst others, have suggested that fees charged under the
RTI Act be increased in case the information sought covers large periods of time and is not in a format as maintained by the offices.
Concerned over the growing 'misuse' of the transparency law, public sector undertakings (PSUs) - Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and DMRC - have called for putting up adequate safeguards in this regard. Some other offices have expressed concern over their lack of proper infrastructure in catering to timely disbursal of information.
National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC), which is under the Urban Development Ministry, has suggested that the
RTI Act also bring within its ambit the private sector, in failure of which PSUs should also be granted exemption from complying with the Act.
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