No RTI system in place, CIC pulls up ASI

[karira]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=450 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=headline>No RTI system in place, CIC pulls up ASI</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>Information Commissioner Padma Balasubramaniam pulled up ASI for not installing a mechanism for RTI applications and asked ASI Director General to personally look into unnecessary delay in setting up the mechanism and install requisite machinery at the headquarters as well as its circle offices. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>The matter came to light with the case of Shashi Kant Sikand. The applicant had filed an RTI application with the public information officer (PIO) of ASI's Delhi circle regarding alterations in a specific building. In that request, filed almost a year back on July 5, 2006, Sikand raised eight queries about the daily progress of his application and who were the officials involved in processing of the application. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>


</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>Sikand received a reply on December 6, 2006. Dissatisfied with the reply, he filed the first appeal on January 4, 2007 with the appellate authority in ASI headquarters. When he did not receive any reply, Sikand filed a second appeal before CIC on February 5, 2007. </TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>


</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>During the course of hearings, Subramaniam found that ASI had not designated an appellate authority almost two years after the implementation of RTI Act 2005. Subramaniam said: "As far as the installation of a proper RTI mechanism, I would direct the DG, ASI to look into this aspect and provide proper mechanism for handling RTI applications both in the headquarters as well as in the circle office."


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