HL: 'State info commission is not maintaining proper records'
Strap: State Governor's office assures redressal of issues
DNA Correspondent
Alleging gross apathy in the implementation of the Right To Information (RTI) Act, an RTI activist from Thane Nainesh Dolas has written to the governor of Maharashtra. Taking note of his plea, the governor's office stated in a letter that his complaints will be looked into and proper action shall be taken.
Dolas has been promoting and training citizens and organisations about the RTI Act since the last couple of years. In his letter addressed to the governor of Maharashtra, he alleged that the State Information Commissioner's office is not maintaining proper records and the appeal transfer process in its Konkan and Mumbai division too is erroneous. According to Dolas, no timely intimation of the appeal hearing is received and there is also a delay in giving the information sought by the applicant due to the irregularities in the hearing of appeals. As per the act, the entire process should not take more than 270 days. But Dolas stated that the rule is not abided by and it often takes more 400 days to complete the process.
Dolas claimed, "The quarterly and six-monthly meetings were held in 2008. But in 2009, the meeting was not held. If at all the meeting was conducted, its agenda too was not decided."
In his letter, Dolas also alleged that the State Information Commission, in many cases, is not awarding fine despite the PIO being declared guilty by the first appellant authority for providing incorrect information. Moreover, the second appeal hearing also consumes more time than the stipulated 150 days, he added.