Asks the CEO of Slum Rehabilitation Authority to appear before it with a notarised affidavit on July 23
In a one of its kind move, the state information commission (SIC) has taken a suo motu cognisance of non-compliance of its order. It has asked the chief executive officer (CEO) of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to come before it with a notarised affidavit on July 23, 2018 on the compliance it has done of its order.
To improve transparency in spending of government money and slum rehab schemes, the SIC had declared housing societies under slum rehab component of SRA to be public authorities on December 19, 2017. Often lack of transparency in names of eligible beneficiaries in annexure has lead to allegations of corruption and eligible people being left out in slum rehab projects.
SIC order asked SRA to appoint public information officer (PIO) in a month’s time from societies and an officer not below the rank of assistant registrar as first appellate authority (FAA). It also asked SRA to create infrastructure and train PIOs on RTI in six month’s time.
Some citizens have often complained of authorities not complying commission orders by not providing information. However, this time, a public authority seems to have done what they do with citizens.
After six months and various meetings, when SRA failed to provide any compliane, a suo-motu complaint was registered. The hearing notice intimation stated that SIC orders are binding and there is also a GR related to it.
“It is a very good move. When officers at very high level do not implement orders, the commission can not only summon them but also issue an arrest warrant. There are times when they should do it,” said Shailesh Gandhi, former central information commissioner.
“There are many lacunae in housing societies functioning. People either do not know their rights or do not know how to get them. The commission should make the SRA CEO accountable,” said Bhaskar Prabhu, another RTI activist. Deepak Kapoor, CEO of SRA did not respond to sms from DNA.
DETAILS OF THE ORDER
- SIC order asked SRA to appoint public information officer in a month’s time from societies & an officer not below the rank of assistant registrar as first appellate authority
- It also asked SRA to create infrastructure & train PIOs on RTI in 6 months
- Order was meant to ensure transparency and to look into corruption, if any
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