Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 20: Expressing serious concern over the current status of J&K State Information Commission (JKSIC), which has been rendered ‘defunct’, Dr Vikas Sharma State President National Secular Forum accused state Government of strangulating the Right to Information Act (2009) in the State.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Sharma said that the PDP-BJP Coalition Government has ridiculed the very idea of Right to Information as the Government deliberately rendered it defunct by not appointing new members of State information Commission.
“The aggrieved information seekers are totally confused as the First Appellate Authorities of several departments are deliberately pushing them to go for Second Appeal knowing that SIC is lying defunct which amounts to mockery of the situation,” he said.
“Previously it was unrest in the Valley owing to which none of the Jammuite could go to SIC office when lone Information Commissioner was entertaining appeals in Srinagar office but now since Capital is here, in Jammu, the SIC office has gone defunct. The aggrieved RTI seekers from Jammu have been suffering for the last six months but the State Govt which makes tall claims of good governance has failed to fulfil its basic duty which is highly apathetic,” he lambasted.
He mentioned that the CIC before his retirement had written to the State Government to appoint the new CIC and the Information Commissioners well in advance but all his efforts were in vain.
While demanding immediate appointment of CIC and ICs to reconstitute the Commission, Sharma sought an explanation from the State Govt on the sabotage of RTI Act.
He regretted that with the SIC being turned defunct, it would further encourage the unscrupulous officials, political helmsmen and other elements in the State for breeding patronized corruption and other vices.
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