‘Follow RTI or face the consequences’

In what can be termed as a veiled warning to public information officers across the state, chief information commissioner Suresh Joshi has urged state chief secretary Johny Joseph to ensure that public servants uphold the spirit of implementation of the RTI Act. In a letter dated February 25, 2009, Joshi warns public information officers (PIO) to implement RTI Act in its true spirit or face action.

Talking to DNA, state chief information commissioner (SCIC) Dr Suresh Joshi said the reason for writing his letter was to make the state as perfect as possible. “We get the maximum RTI applications in the world and there is no reason why we should not be judged as the most transparent state. PIOs are the fulcrum of the act. If they do not discharge their responsibilities properly, then there is a fine. If PIOs do not give information on time, it means he is a wilful defaulter. He cannot then say that he did not know the act or that he/she was not trained. We will strictly implement the procedure of the act,” he said.

After approximately four years of the act’s existence, the general complaint is that PIOs tend to delay disbursing info, often claiming a lack of knowledge of the act. Joshi letter, comprising the points that RTI activist had lobbied for, states that PIOs and the first appellate authorities must be proactive in disbursing information. The letter adds that in case of any confusion in the application, the PIOs should not hesitate in calling the applicants for clarity.

The letter comes after a meeting Joshi held with all the state secretaries in small groups over 10 days, during which Joshi told the secretaries about the need to implement the act faster.

Chief secretary Johny Joseph confirmed he had received a letter from Joshi and that a circular from Joshi had been sent to all the heads of departments. “Basically, they are instructions why there should not be any delay in the implementation of the act. They in turn will be sending that to all the PIOs.”