Sir,
The only tool in the hands of State Information Commission (SIC) i.e., J&K Right to Information (RTI) Act 2009 has been diluted by the State Government to change the former from SIC to SICK ! After the establishment of SIC, common people had a lot of expectations from its functioning. The implementation of RTI Act in its original form, through its guardian (i.e., S.I.C) was a great step towards ensuring transparency in public offices and matters.
Instead of diluting the law, the state Govt. should have put in place a mechanism to monitor its full implementation at the grassroots level. The main entities relating to state’s security or law and order could be exempted from RTI penetration once for all so that the real objective of the Act, is at least achieved. RTI is not meant to curb the corruption or financial irregularities as there is a separate system for that. However RTI ensures the disclosure of facts and information as to what is happening inside. I think here laws are meant to just exist on papers. With the result common man is always being sandwiched by the mighty elements. Jammu and Kashmir figures at the top in the list of most corrupt states and the situation is going from bad to worse. Till date RTI queries had disclosed only tip of an iceberg in the corroded administrative set up. In future, it could have revealed much more perplexing data. With the recent amendment in the RTI Act , our state moved another step backwards in the fight against financial and administrative mismanagement.
Yours etc…..
Abdul Hamid Mir
Lecturer Chemistry
Govt. Hr Sec School,
Chuchot-Shama, Leh.
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