Right to Information is one of the precious rights which citizens of the State enjoy. RTI Act is a comprehensive Act that provides opportunity to the citizens to access to transparency so that they are facilitated in solving their difficulties and problems. The problem that has been encountered right from the day the Act was passed is the reluctance of the bureaucracy to strictly observe the instructions issued to the heads of the departments. Owing to IT facilities it has become easy to find out from the related websites the status of a particular case.
The difficulty is that most of the departments are not loading updated information on their websites. In a seminar organized by Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu, Chief Information Commissioner Khurshid Ganai said that despite Article 4 of the RTI Act clearly saying that the departments are mandated to upload most recent information pertaining to their respective departments, this clause is not being observed in letter and in spirit. This is a hindrance in smooth implementation of the Right to Information. Perhaps inadequate knowledge of computer technology is the reason behind poor performance of the departments in uploading updated information. It is apprehended by some that the Act could be misused and people could seek personal information etc. But that was not the ground reality. The Act strictly lays down that no personal information can be revealed and there are other riders also which people ought to know.
People are happy with the RTI from day one. The way in which the Government explained the spirit of introducing the Act is laudable. However, ground reality is different. There are many departments who are reluctant and half hearted in revealing information when approached by an applicant. Many hurdles and ifs and buts are created to discourage people from seeking information under the Act. The CIC himself has admitted that much needs to be done to improve the fundamental philosophy of transparency in administration. We would like to suggest two things. One is that a short two weeks training course should be set forth for all the staff in the secretariat that is involved with uploading of information. This will overcome the flitch in uploading. Second is that an orientation course should be set up by the CIC to impart salient features of RTI to Government functionaries at middle and lower rungs of service. Social awareness and consciousness needs to be created about the importance of this Act.
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