Sir,
This refers to article ‘Implementing Central RTI’ law in J&K by Raja Muzaffar Bhat (Daily Excelsior 17.12.2019). It is very much difficult to implement RTI Act 2005 in J&K as Jammu & Kashmir is no more a state now. In Union Territories as the author has said there is no provision of an independent state information commission, in such a scenario where shall the RTI appellants of J&K go when they don’t get any response from Govt offices after filing RTI applications?
It will be impossible for an ordinary citizen of J&K to approach Central Information Commission New Delhi. There should be a separate State Information Commission in J&K and for making that possible Govt of India has to make amendment in the RTI Act 2005. J&K RTI Act 2009 which was enacted around 10 years back was repealed after abrogation of article 370. This law was indeed a strong RTI legislation that would always be remembered by people of J&K. We wish Govt should have protected this law like 160 plus other J&K laws.
Mujtaba Bashir
Ghaziabad UP
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