As reported by Imran Khan in expressbuzz.com on 10 October 2010:
Videohearing to put RTI cases on fast track | | | Indian Express

Videohearing to put RTI cases on fast track

BANGALORE: Filing a Right to Information (RTI) applications has just got easier. Karnataka Information Commission (KIC), for the first time, will install a video-conference facility wherein an applicant can file his RTI application through video hearing.

The applicant will no longer need to come to Bangalore to register his complaint or for his case to be heard.

The RTI applicant can apply at his own place and at his own convenience, through video-conferencing.

The facility, which will start from the next month. Once installed, the system will cater to 40 per cent of the overall cases, which are filed from different places in the state. State Information Commissioner Thippeswamy said on an average, around 1,000 fresh cases were heard in a month and hearing of a similar number of cases had to be adjourned.

“With the new facility, we can ask the petitioner to attend the video conference at his own place,” said the commissioner.

“For example, a petitioner from Gulbarga will have to spend 12 to 14 hours to travel to Bangalore if a case comes up for hearing. But with the help of the video-hearing facility, he saves that time and travel money,” Thippeswamy said.

The commission is planning to rope in the district administrations to facilitate the process. The public information officer at the offices of the deputy commissioners (DCs) will be asked to monitor the cases. The petitioner will be called to the DC office for the video-hearing.

“Everything will be recorded on camera and the petitioner can even submit documents through the facility,” said Thippeswamy.

The commission, with the help of gram panchayats and zilla panchayats, is planning to mobilise the people to avail this facility.

Vikram Simha of Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra (MHAK) said this was just a techno fanfare and nothing else. “Using the e-governance facility, if the government departments voluntarily disclose the information, why would people take the pain of filing an RTI application,” he asked.

He said it took only Rs 400 to put up display boards in villages, highlighting government schemes and beneficiaries, so that people can get to know about their rights. “Instead of that, they have come up with this techno fanfare,” he said.

Simha said currently 19,000 applications were pending for appeal with the commission. As per the provisions of the RTI Act, around 10 information commissioners and one chief information commissioner are required.

“But there are only two as of now. If you appeal today, your hearing will come only after 14 months.

So what use will this video conference be, when there is no commissioner to hear the cases,” he asked

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