The RTI act was implemented to empower the public to gather information from authorities.
Representational image
BENGALURU: In the wake of over 30,000 appeal applications pending before the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) and the demand for hearings increasing from Right To Information (RTI) activists, RTI adalats have been organised for speedy disposal of the applications. The RTI act was implemented to empower the public to gather information from authorities and to get the things done, if there’s any lapse on the part of officials. Since officials have been dodging the activists and applicants are forced to approach KIC by filing appeals. Hearings at KIC were fruitful initially as the commissioner of the KIC would penalize the officer with a penalty ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.
Since there is a huge pile of appeals the hearings are delayed. Applications that are filed in June 2013 are coming up for hearing in December 2015. Due to the delay the act is losing its sheen and RTI activists are feeling disheartened, said RTI activist B. H. Veeresh. As the officials are aware that the RTI activists have to wait for at least 12 to 15 months to make them accountable before the KIC, they are dodging and reluctant to reveal information. Besides, some of the officials who are responsible for denying the information would either get transferred or promoted or retired, he said and added that with this, getting information and fixing accountability has become a daunting task.
Mr. Veeresh says that adalats are being organized on an experimental basis in Karnataka and have been received positively. The civic body, BBMP, has been chosen for organizing adalats. Both applicants and Public Information Officers (PIO) have been appearing before the commissioner and replying. Information Commissioner, L. KrishnaMurthy, said that officials have been giving an undertaking to part with the required information. In some cases, they are penalized. About 80 per cent of the officials have been paying the penalty without any delay, he said.
Although penalties would be deducted from their salary, in some cases, officials pay by cash to avoid deduction in their salary. This may be to avoid deductions in the salary slip and to have a clean image, he felt. The Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) in association with the KIC has been organizing adalats.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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