The spread, implementation and monitoring of RTI Act has some weaknesses
2 Oct, 2013
Last week I watched the Interview of Shri Ajay Maken on News 24. I like the way he answered all the questions decently and without any exaggeration. I am your big fan and I believe that a friend must be a good critic.
I fully appreciate the Congress Government for providing the common man the right to Information in 2005. I must congratulate the government for the same. But as far as its spread, implementation and monitoring is concerned there are some weaknesses which, as an aware citizen, I would like to share three good examples:
1. As far as its spread and extension of information to the common man is concerned, there are many PIOs who does not know which information is to be provided and which is not. Many PIOs are invulnerable who, knowing well, ignore and reject the right. In such cases a common man has to appeal to his authority but there are some secretive linkages between the PIO and the authority, so again the common man is not provided the requisite and legal information. S/He, then has to complain the CIC. But surprisingly, the CIC has more than 2000 cases pending in his office. Thus to get an information becomes an odyssey for a common man.
2. The above-mentioned example was for a common man who knows about the Right as well as who is well-educated. What happens if a common Indian citizen who is illiterate or semi-literate applies for some information? If the PIO does not provide him/her information then he will not appeal and wander here and there for Information. Rather, s/he will be unhappy at the Government.
3. The RTI was implemented all over India in 2005 but there are many cases in which the PIOs have not provided the information malafiedly and deliberately. Most of them are not punished. So the common man thinks the act as a weak act.
4. Is there any mechanism to save the Information Commissioners from the upload of more than 2000 complaints?
5. There are many CIC judgments but the PIOs are either unaware of them or they deliberately and malafiedly ignore them. Government should punish these PIOs who does not read or analyze these judgments and they do not provide some common information which as per the CIC judgments they must provide to the applicant.
6. I strongly believe that the Information Commission must punish these PIOs who do not care for the Act in order to spread a strong message to the nation regarding this act.
Bhavna Parmar