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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | ‘Stop using RTI Act for personal problems’ by Ashutosh Shukla

‘Stop using RTI Act for personal problems’ by Ashutosh Shukla

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published Published on Oct 11, 2010   modified Modified on Oct 11, 2010
Outgoing state chief information commissioner (CIC) Suresh Joshi holds the privilege of being the first state CIC under the Right to Information Act.

He has upped the ante with his retirement, five years down the line.

At the time of his exit, Maharashtra holds the distinction of having disposed off the maximum number of appeals in the country — 54,000 as of June, as compared to the Centre’s 50,000, and with fewer commissioners.

The outgoing commissioner spoke to DNA about the status of the Act, the challenges it faces and what needs to be done to for its effective implementation:

What have been RTI’s and the commission’s biggest achievements since their inception?

The biggest achievement has been that common people are treated better at government offices than they were.

Which kind of applications did you like and would want people to submit more of?

There are three kinds of applicants in the city — activists, slum-dwellers and the middle class, and the ones from rural areas. Shailesh Gandhi (now one of the CICs) set a good precedent by shaking up the government and compelling it to give information on the chief minister’s relief fund. Slum-dwell-ers used the Act well. The middle class generally uses the RTI for its own problems; they need to move to transparency issues so that personal usage of the Act stops. Villagers have done a great job of getting the government to take action on land issues.

Despite the initiative that you have taken, not much has been done about section 4 of the RTI Act (voluntary disclosure of information). What are the challenges and threats that you would want your successor to focus on?

I am not satisfied with the implementation of section 4. The biggest challenge and threat is its implementation and the weakness of information given. Computerisation of records is needed.

Which of your suggestions do you want the government to follow up on soon?

Implementation of section 4 is one. Another would be the disbursal of information within 15 days in some cases. The work of the first appellate authority needs to be monitored. We need trained staff for monitoring the implementation of the Act.

Activists have played a prominent role during your tenure. Any suggestions for your successor?

The new commissioner should try to meet as many activists and NGOs as possible, as they educate us about the Act’s reach. A lot needs to be done about e-governance.


DNA, 11 October, 2010, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_stop-using-rti-act-for-personal-problems_1450820


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