RTI Court Decision: J&K public authorities directed to disclose activities online

[Sajib Nandi]

Reported by Dnaindia.com on Jul 20, 2012
J&K public authorities directed to disclose activities online - India - DNA

Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission (SIC) has directed all public authorities to make voluntary disclosure of their activities on their websites.

Under Section 4 of the J&K State Right to Information Act 2009, all public authorities have to make voluntary disclosure of their activities on their websites or through other means where internet facilities are not available, the SIC said in a notification issued yesterday. The public authorities are bound to publish, within 120 days from the commencement of the Act, all the details about the organisation, its functions and duties and the powers and duties of its employees.

The organisations will also have to publish the procedure followed in decision making, processes including channels of supervision and accountability and the statement of categories of documents that are held by it or under its control.

SIC also directed the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages to disseminate the statements of the categories of documents held by it or under its control which includes details of manuscripts acquired, purchased, owned or gifted to it, the title of such manuscripts and descriptive numbers to identify whether the manuscripts were same.

The academy has priceless collections of reference books, the details of all these documents including names of authors and titles of books need to be uploaded on the website for the information of general public, the Commission said.

[Sajib Nandi]

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Reported by Newkerala.com on Jul 20
Display activities on website, SIC to Jammu Kashmir cultural academy | newKerala.com, 55068

Srinagar, Jul 20 : The State Information Commission (SIC) has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (AACL) to make voluntary disclosure of all activities on the website or through other means where Internet facilities are not available.

The SIC said under Section 4 of the J and K State (Right to Information Act 2009), all public authorities have to make voluntary disclosure of their activities on their websites or through other means where internet facilities are not available.

These authorities have to publish within 120 days from the commencement of the Act, the particulars of its organisation, functions and duties, powers and duties of its employees, procedure followed in decision making, processes including channels of supervision and accountability, the statement of categories of documents that are held by it or under its control.

The AACL is autonomous body and has also to carry out the mandate given in this Act,the SIC said, adding the government has recently through its circular enjoined upon all the public authorities for taking necessary action for dissemination of information on the website in this regard.

The Commission has directed the Academy for dissemination of the statement of the categories of documents held by it or under its control which includes details of manuscripts acquired, purchased, owned by or gifted to it the title of such manuscripts and descriptive numbers to identify whether the manuscripts were same.

The Academy is custodian of priceless paintings of Basohli, Jammu and Chamba has also a rich collection of Kashmir miniature paintings.

Similarly, there is unique collection of calligraphy, artifacts and stock of numismatic (coins) etc, details thereof needs to be put on website. The Academy has also priceless collections of reference books, the details of all these documents including names of authors and titles of books also needs to be uploaded on the website for the information of general public, said the Commission.

There are numerous photographs of 17th and 18th Century or even before that period and number of them are un-exhibited which needs to be catalogued appropriately and uploaded on the website together with precious collections of letters, khalats.

The Commission stressed and directed that under Section 15 of the Act for ensuring completion of this job within a month from the date of receipt of the letter. (UNI)