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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | New Maharashtra chief information commissioner finds lacunae in RTI Act

New Maharashtra chief information commissioner finds lacunae in RTI Act

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published Published on Oct 15, 2010   modified Modified on Oct 15, 2010

Newly appointed state chief information commissioner (SCIC) Vilas Patil admitted that there are lacunaes in the Right to Information Act.

He felt that this needs to be addressed urgently so that the act can be smoothly implemented. Patil added that due to this lacunae the percentage of recovery of penalties imposed on the errant officers duringimplementation is either low or unknown.

After the swearing-in on Thursday, Patil took charge from outgoing SCIC Suresh Joshi and briefed the media at Mantralaya. He said his priority would be to dispose of the pendency at the commission level. “I believe in qualitative disposal, and the interpretation of the Act should reflect in the verdict delivered.”

He refused to comment on the controversy surrounding his appointment.

“There is nothing that I can do with the objections raised. The appointment was done by a high power committee of competent politicians,” he said.

Patil said that Section 4 of the RTI Act says that government authorities should voluntarily disclose information. However, the section is unclear as to who will be responsible in disclosing the information, especially if the government authorities fail to act. Patil informed that he has written to the government about the same and added that the first appelate authority needs to be given adequate power so that the applications do not have to land up with the commissioners in second appeals.

He said that the Act does not dwell onhow to recover penalties imposed from errant officials. “Whenever we impose penalty, we cannot ensure that the recovery is done, since the Act does not specifically fix any responsibility. Even the quantum of the penalty to be recovered is unknown.” he added.

Patil argued in favour of granting more powers to the commission. “We don’t even have the power to implement certain orders, unless people complain,” he said.

Meanwhile, activist Krishnaraj Rao broke his nine-day fast. “There were reports that an assurance is given to Anna Hazare that future appointments will be done by a committee. Partial success was met so I ended my fast,” he said.


DNA, 15 October, 2010, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_new-maharashtra-chief-information-commissioner-finds-lacunae-in-rti-act_1452804


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