Jammu, June 02 (Scoop News) – Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu who is also the designated Public Information Officer to the office of Deputy Commissioner Jammu for the purpose of dealing with Right to Information Applications of the citizens repeatedly fumes the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009, the RTI applicants and activists often complain that the PIO with office of Deputy Commissioner Jammu doesn’t bother to comply with J & K RTI rules and norms established by none other than the state legislature.
Raman Sharma, RTI activist and founding member of the Sangarsh RTI
Movement in a statement has complained that the PIO/ADC Jammu deliberately to desist and discourage RTI applicants never shows any regard in furnishing the requisite information in stipulated period of 30 days, disappointed with the attitude of the PIO, he further asserted that despite strict warnings and guidelines issued by GR Sufi, the Chief Information Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir to the PIO’s to respect and follow the procedure of RTI act, there seems no change in the autocratic mindset of the bureaucrats who place themselves above the law of the land and hardly shell out any attention and respect for the laws and acts passed by the state legislature. He revealed that his one RTI application dated 21 February 2011 remained inattentive for more than 75 days with the PIO and finally disposed of by her on 7, May, 2011 and he received the incomplete information on 16, May 2011 through ordinary post.
He said that his RTI application sought some queries related to Permanent Resident Certificates issued by the office of DC Jammu. He said the information should have been served within 30 days moreover the requisite information is not provided in the format in which it was asked. He said, he filed RTI application to know the number of ‘OBJECTIONS’ marked by the Additional DC on the State Subject Files ( Permanent Resident Certificates) in the last one year but the
ADC despite a prolonged period of 75 days provided incomplete information.
Similarly in another incidence the same PIO took more than 84 days just to transfer RTI application of Balvinder Singh, the convener of Sangarsh RTI group.
Balvinder in a statement alleged that deliberately attempts are being made to desist and demoralize the RTI applicants from exercising their right to ask. Disappointed RTI activists also disclosed that their another RTI application dated 28 March, 2011 is also pending with the PIO but have not received any information whatsoever.
The RTI group has demanded the intervention of the Chief Minister in this matter and urged the state government to take a disciplinary action against the adamant PIO that shows no respect to the rights of the citizens.