Ground Report

 By Tahima Qazmi 

Jammu, Jan 17: 



If figures are any indication, RTI activism is picking up thick and fast in Jammu and Kashmir and more heartily, youth are increasingly using their Right to Information to seek information about the working of various departments of state administration. 

According to official reports, during the year 2011, commission received 424 complaints in Srinagar office, out of which 217 were disposed off. In addition, there were 29 appeals of which 19 were disposed. Similarly, in Jammu office commission received 229 complaints during 2011, 96 out of them were disposed off. In addition, there were 28 appeals of which 25 were disposed off. 

State information Commission received 652 complaints during the previous year, of which 313 were disposed. Commission also penalized two government officials including a Public Information officer from SKUAST and another Chief Engineer PDD, who were fined Rs 25000 each. Besides, a Tehsildar has also been fined Rs 20,000 this month for not furnishing the information to the applicant within stipulated time. 

Sunita Chauhan a student said, "The youth of the state is coming forward with great enthusiasm for seeking more and more information under the Right to Information act which is making the system more effective and accountable." "This historic legislation has empowered the last man of the society to ask questions to the government and seek information on his legitimate dues" she added. 

Talking to KI, Chief Information Commi-ssioner G R Sufi said, "It is heartening that people are coming forward to seek information from the government departments, which is bound to make them more accountable. The Commission is an appellant body that insures that information sought by the applicant is provided to him within the stipulated time. Usually we came across to the cases regarding SSRB, Revenue and Social Welfare Department", he further added. 

The revolutionary legislation of RTI Act was passed during the year 2005 by the Government of India and enforced in Jammu and Kashmir on March 20, 2009. As the Commission was set up in 2009 and Chief Information Commis-sioner, a retired Income Tax Commissioner G R Sufi appointed on February 28, 2011, the bench was made available for the judgments only following his appointment.