Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | In replies to RTI queries, snapshots of information panels' health

In replies to RTI queries, snapshots of information panels' health

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Mar 21, 2018   modified Modified on Mar 21, 2018
-The Indian Express

Several commissions were either not functioning or functioning at reduced capacity as posts of Commissioners, including those of Chief Information Commissioners, were vacant during the period under review.

A recent study to assess the performance of Information Commissions (ICs) by non-government organisations Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) and Centre for Equity Studies (CES) has found several shortcomings in their functioning, which impact the effectiveness of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The landmark 2005 legislation empowers citizens to hold the government to account for a vast range of public matters. The conclusions of the study are themselves based primarily on information accessed under the RTI Act from 29 ICs across the country. A total 169 RTI applications were filed with State Information Commissions (SICs) and the Central Information Commission (CIC). Some key findings of the ‘Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India’, published earlier this month:

Hamstrung SICs

Several commissions were either not functioning or functioning at reduced capacity as posts of Commissioners, including those of Chief Information Commissioners, were vacant during the period under review. Post-bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had a common SIC, which became defunct in May 2017 after the retirement of the Chief and the lone Information Commissioner. Telangana constituted its SIC on September 13, 2017, and two Commissioners assumed charge on September 25, 2017. AP issued an order to constitute an SIC in August 2017, but no Commissioner has been appointed so far.

The West Bengal SIC currently has two Commissioners, but during the periods under review (November 2015 to July 2016 and April 2017 to July 2017), it heard no appeals or complaints as there was only one Commissioner.
In Sikkim, the SIC was non-functional between December 2017 and February 2018.

ICs without Chief

Three SICs are currently without a Chief Information Commissioner, says the report. In Maharashtra, the CIC retired in April 2017; the Nagaland SIC has been without a Chief since September 2017; in Gujarat, the CIC retired in January 2018.

Vacancies (as of Oct 2017)

There were four vacancies in the Central Information Commission. Four of the seven Commissioners, including the Chief, will retire in 2018. Kerala SIC was functioning with a single Commissioner. Nearly 14,000 appeals were pending at the time of the review. In Odisha, the SIC had three commissioners; over 10,000 appeals and complaints were pending.

Please click here to read more.

The Indian Express, 19 March, 2018, http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-replies-to-rti-queries-snapshots-of-information-panels-health-5102525/


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close