GIC plans drive to dispose of pending cases filed under RTI
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, February 29, 2012
Gujarat Information Commission is planning to launch a special drive in every district to reduce pendency of cases filed under the Right to Information Act. Currently, 9,024 cases, including 1,973 complaints and 7,051 appeals, are pending with the commission.
To be held between March 14 and 30, the drive will begin in Surat where the commission will try to dispose of 250 cases.
An official, requesting anonymity, said, “We are sorting out cases according to districts and departments. Most complaints are from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Rajkot. Since we will have to call the information officer and appeal officer from the concerned departments as well as the complainant in each case, we will be dealing with hundreds of people. Once we work out the logistics, we will announce the final schedule. We hope to dispose of at least 40 per cent of the cases.”
The officials might combine areas where the number of cases are few. The drive will be spread over a couple of days in areas where more cases are filed.
The commission also plans to include NGOs that work for RTI so that they can address people’s grievances. The organisations will also help officials interpret an application correctly so that relevant information is given. Between 2006 and 2012, officials of 151 departments have been penalised up to Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 for giving misinformation or not giving information at all.
Some of these complaints are pending since 2007 due to non-appearance of complainant or official.
Harnesh Pandya of Janpath, an NGO working for RTI awareness, said, “Every day 10-11 cases are filed. Thousands of cases are pending and the number is increasing day by day. Such a drive will be the first of its kind in the country. If it helps in disposing of even 40 per cent of the cases, it will be a good move.”
The commission plans to hold a separate drive for senior citizens and the differently abled so that they are not inconvenienced.
Posted On Friday, February 29, 2012
Gujarat Information Commission is planning to launch a special drive in every district to reduce pendency of cases filed under the Right to Information Act. Currently, 9,024 cases, including 1,973 complaints and 7,051 appeals, are pending with the commission.
To be held between March 14 and 30, the drive will begin in Surat where the commission will try to dispose of 250 cases.
An official, requesting anonymity, said, “We are sorting out cases according to districts and departments. Most complaints are from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara and Rajkot. Since we will have to call the information officer and appeal officer from the concerned departments as well as the complainant in each case, we will be dealing with hundreds of people. Once we work out the logistics, we will announce the final schedule. We hope to dispose of at least 40 per cent of the cases.”
The officials might combine areas where the number of cases are few. The drive will be spread over a couple of days in areas where more cases are filed.
The commission also plans to include NGOs that work for RTI so that they can address people’s grievances. The organisations will also help officials interpret an application correctly so that relevant information is given. Between 2006 and 2012, officials of 151 departments have been penalised up to Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000 for giving misinformation or not giving information at all.
Some of these complaints are pending since 2007 due to non-appearance of complainant or official.
Harnesh Pandya of Janpath, an NGO working for RTI awareness, said, “Every day 10-11 cases are filed. Thousands of cases are pending and the number is increasing day by day. Such a drive will be the first of its kind in the country. If it helps in disposing of even 40 per cent of the cases, it will be a good move.”
The commission plans to hold a separate drive for senior citizens and the differently abled so that they are not inconvenienced.
