Set-up RTI Portal on pattern of DoPT: CIC to GAD

Seeks written response on set of new directions
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 26: Not satisfied with the level of compliance to the provisions of J&K Right to Information Act by majority of the Public Authorities, Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Khurshid Ahmed Ganai has directed the General Administration Department to set-up Portal on the pattern of RTI Portal of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of Government of India as expeditiously as possible and submit compliance report.
The direction has been issued by the Chief Information Commissioner while dealing with two complaints filed under Section 15 of the J&K RTI Act, 2009.
During the course of proceedings, one of the complainants submitted that no progress has been made by the General Administration Department since the last order of the State Information Commission dated November 16, 2017 and the public was still facing problems due to lack of information or obsolete information on the departmental websites.
However, the officers representing General Administration Department briefed the Chief Information Commission about the steps taken by the department and said that a meeting of all the Administrative Secretaries has been planned by the Chief Secretary to assess the level of compliance to the provisions of RTI Act particularly Section 4, which pertains to voluntary disclosure of information.
The CIC was also informed that for implementation of Section 4 of the J&K RTI Act, the Information Technology Department has been asked to operationalize the RTI Portal and some meetings in this regard have also been convened.
However, the State Information Commission was not satisfied with the response of the officers representing the General Administration Department and accordingly issued set of directions for compliance in a time bound manner and submission of conformity report in writing.
As per the interim order of the State Information Commission, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, the General Administration Department has been asked to set-up RTI Portal on the pattern of RTI Portal of DoPT, Government of India with similar features and facilities.
It is pertinent to mention here that information pertaining to proactive disclosures, important files and Cabinet Notes and Public Authority wise complaints filed with Central Information Commission since its inception etc can be easily assessed by the people on the RTI Portal of DoPT. But the website of General Administration Department of J&K doesn’t contain all such information.
“Online facility for uploading RTI applications may also be provided by all the Public Authorities in the Government”, the Chief Information Commissioner has further directed the General Administration Department. Even directions have been issued for issuance of circular instructions with deadlines for the Public Authorities to report compliance for implementation of the provisions of Section 4 in letter and spirit.
“The State Government through GAD shall ensure implementation of Sections 4(1)(b), 4(1)(c) and 4(1)(d) by all the Public Authorities in the Government electronically through internet”, read the order of the State Information Commission.
The GAD has also been asked to furnish list of Public Authorities under each Administrative Department which have set-up functional websites; list of Public Authorities which have not so far set-up functional websites; list of Public Authorities which have set up websites but the same have not been found to be Section 4 compliant and list of Public Authorities which have provided the facility of online receipt of RTI applications.
“The respondents are directed that the next hearing be attended by the Administrative Secretary, General Administration Department or his authorized representative, who is a fairly senior officer of the department along with First Appellate Authority and Public Information Officer to spell out the progress in writing made on the issues pointed out by the Commission”, the order further reads.
It is pertinent to mention here that SIC is repeatedly laying thrust on installation of a system in all Government offices and with all the PIOs to enable receipt of RTI applications electronically and for giving electronically/digitally generated receipts for all the RTI applications received physically so as to track the movement of such applications at regular intervals.
This was also reiterated on last date of hearing but negligible progress has been made by the General Administration Department on the subject till date.

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