More About RTISharing experience Amita Prasad IAS Regional

More About RTI--Sharing experience Amita Prasad IAS Regional Commissioner Belgaum Division

Certain facts Ø 53% of public authorities donot share any information at all. Ø 37% departments published about subsidies and beneficiaries. Ø Only 23% listed the projects they undertake.

What is happening l l l Many challenges Lack of resources Problem in developing, organizing and preparing to improve functioning of RTI law Non cooperation of bureaucracy Most applications related to personal grievances

Requirements under the act l l l Setting of information commissions at state and center Designating Information officers Making public various types of information Publishing all relevant facts while formulating important policies Providing reasons for administrative or quasi judicial decisions

What is implied l Proactive action l Disclosure of names l Prompt action in time bound manner

RTI ACT--- Important sections l Section 2(j) a right to (i) inspection of work, documents, records, (ii) taking notes, extracts or certified copies of documents or records, (iii) taking separate samples of material, (iv) obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes l Section 4 duty of public authorities to maintain records for easy access and to publish within 120 days the name of the officers who should give information. l Section 6(2) talks that an applicant cannot be questioned why he is asking for information

RTI ACT--- Important sections contnd. . l Sec. 7 request to be disposed of within 30 days provided that where information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the same shall be provided within 48 hours. l A request rejected shall be communicated under sec. 7(8) giving reasons and specifying the procedure for appeal and the designation of the appellate authority. l Sec. 8 exempts from disclosure certain information and contents

RTI ACT--- Important sections contnd. . l Sec. 20 provides penalties for non-furnishing information as required by the Act in a sum of Rs. 250/per day. l Sec. 23 bars all courts from entertaining any suit, application or other proceeding in respect of any order made under the Act and every order under the Act should be first appealed against.

The Issues l Developing user friendly manuals l Developing human capacities l Developing support systems

Problems and solutions Time to share experience !!!!!!