Kerala: Cabinet decisions on official portal

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the reservation  shown by the government in disclosing cabinet decisions under the RTI Act has kicked up a row, it is learnt that the Chief Secretary had recently directed all government departments to ensure that all government orders based on cabinet decisions are uploaded on the government's official portal on the same day.

According to sources, Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand had directed all the departments last month to strictly adhere to the norm that orders on the cabinet decisions should be issued within 48 hours after the cabinet decision was conveyed. On the same day of issuing the order, it should be published on government website www.kerala.gov.in as well as on separate websites of the departments concerned.

It was also directed that in case the order could not be issued within 48 hours, the department head concerned should bring the matter to the notice of the minister concerned or the chief minister. A copy of the orders issued should be also sent to the General Administration (SC) section. Meanwhile, RTI activists allege that though all the orders based on cabinet decision are available in  the GAD(SC) section, the public information officers often direct RTI applicants to approach the department concerned.

According to the RTI Act, when an application is made to a public authority requesting for an information held by another public authority or the subject matter of which is more closely connected with the functions of another public authority, the public authority, to which such application is made shall transfer the application or such part of it to that other public authority within five days and inform the applicant immediately. This provision is being widely misused to delay disclosure of information, said RTI activist D.B. Binu.