Cases of RTI users blackmailing officers on a rise

For the last four years the state information commissioner, Pune, Vijay Kuvalekar, has been responsible for ensuring proper implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. In fact, it was on his directive that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) opened its files for people to inspect every Monday. Again based on Kuvalekar’s orders, the former district collector, Chandrakant Dalvi, had started the herculean task of setting the land records of the district in order. In a tête-à-tête with DNA, Kuvalekar shares his views regarding the Act and the steps necessary to make it more potent.

What has been your observation regarding the awareness and penetration of the RTI at various levels of the bureaucracy?
There has been a marked change in the way bureaucracy functions since the promulgation of the RTI Act, 2005. This Act has brought a change in the style of functioning of the government. To start with, the officers have understood that they are answerable to the people and they have to give information to the applicant under the Act. This has resulted in opening up of the governance. Moreover, the Act has come across as a good tool for honest officers to resist political and other pressures for bypassing the laws to do work.

Which departments have made good progress in complying with the RTI Act and who need to pull up their socks in this regard?
It would be difficult to give a comprehensive answer to this question. In various parts of the state, many local self-governance bodies and the revenue department have made great progress in implementing the act. However, the police department has not taken compliance of RTI Act seriously.

What are the biggest challenges in implementation of the Act and is there any need for amendments?
I do not think there is a need for any amendments in the Act. Any opportunity of amendment would open the door for dilution of the Act in the long run. At present, there is a rise in the number of users of the RTI Act who use it to blackmail officers. Moreover, there is an unholy nexus between corrupt government officials and users of the Act who keep real RTI activists at bay. And the officers seldom take on the blackmailers since they themselves are on a sticky wicket.

What steps should be taken to strengthen the Act in the future?
To make the Act more powerful, more people should seek information using the Act. When it comes to awareness about RTI, the government is not doing enough to popularise it. Various NGOs, agencies must also take up the effort to popularise the Act. The main threats to the Act are twofold — firstly its misuse and the apathy of the educated middle class towards using it. Just because of some people, who misuse the Act, the general perception about it goes towards a negative swing.  Activists need to put in efforts to ensure the Act is properly implemented. If they demand transparency from the government, then why don’t they practice the same?