*Kichloo contests, says no reply to activist for 1 yr
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: Exposing Government’s claim that no RTI application was pending for want of reply with any department in the State, the National Conference member Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo challenged the response and produced the papers in the House alleging that for the last one year a Govt department was avoiding reply to an RTI activist and same was the position in several other departments.
The issue was raised by NC Member during Question Hour in the upper House today and minister Incharge R&B, Naeem Akhtar was responding on behalf of Minister Incharge GAD (Chief Minister). The Member alleged that Government was not giving correct reply. The fact is that he has documentary evidence of one such case to which information has been denied by a department for the last about one year. The activist has moved to certain quarters but concerned officers are avoiding reply.
Kichloo said it is mandatory to provide information under the Act within 30 days but it is not happening and there is no proper check on the officers/ departments. He also produced the papers before the Chairman Legislative Council, Haji Anayat Ali for taking cognizance of the matter.
The Minister said departments furnish information to the RTI applicants in the stipulated time period prescribed in the J&K Right to Information Act/Rules and there is no pendency as on date. But for this particular case, he would look into the details. There is provision to file appeal before the Commissioner or the Chief Information Commissioner. The activists should approach the appealing authority which takes cognizance of the matter. He said Commission is independent body and take cognizance of such issues.
Replying to another question of Sajad Kichloo, Naeem said that 83 Government Departments have posted information under Section 4(1)(b) on their websites as per the Annual Report of 2013-14 published by the J&K State Information Commission. The final figures would be available only after the SIC finally compiles the data for the year 2017-18, he added.
He further said that the SIC is an Autonomous body and has judicial powers to penalize the officers if they don’t provide the information to the activists within the prescribed time.
Naeem said that the Government would advise the Public authorities to take measures for bringing transparency in their functioning. Non state subjects can also avail information under the RTI Act in the state, he added.
Legislators Girdhari Lal Raina and Ghulam Nabi Monga also raised supplementary questions to the main question.
Replying to another question of BJP Member, Vibodh Gupta, Naeem said that the Government shall examine various issues raised in the representations of the candidates seeking abrogation of SRO-202 keeping in view its impact on the employment scenario and other allied factors.
He further said that J&K Service Selection Board (JKSSB) has made 1,363 selections in the non-gazetted cadre under SRO-202 of 2015 dated 30-06-2015.
Naeem disclosed that the annual financial implication in respect of all non-gazetted appointments made under SRO-202 is Rs 12.13 crore while the total salary budget of all the employees of the State was to the tune of Rs 17,554.26 crores.
Vibodh said Rs 12 core not much for the Government as salary budget of the employees was already more than 17,000 crore, therefore, the Government must re-consider its decision.
Legislators Pradeep Sharma from BJP and Qaiser Jamshed Lone from NC also raised supplementary questions related to the main question.
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