Right to Information (RTI) Act Commissioners Lam Tantiya Kumari and P. Vijaya Babu have said some officials are non-cooperative and acting leniently in the implementation of the Act.
The Commissioners have felt that the heads of some districts and the Appellate Authorities are not taking measures for spreading message on the importance of the Act which is aimed at preventing corruption.
Violating RTI Act will be treated as crime and criminal cases can be booked against violators and can be prosecuted, the Commissioners have warned. Mr. Vijaya Babu, while receiving petitions during his recent visit to the city, said some officials issued GOs on RTI Act in the State which were not valid. The Commissioner said the Appellate Authorities were deputing their subordinates for hearings which was not correct. “The Appellate Authorities cannot depute their staff for arguments and the concerned should attend the hearings,” he said.
“Some bureaucrats are deliberately neglecting the Act and ignoring the petitioners. It is the duty of the officers to maintain transparency while implementing the government schemes to uphold the reputation of the government,” said Mr. Vijaya Babu.
Clearance of petitions
Ms. Tantiya Kumari said as many as 12,000 petitions were received and of them 10,000 were cleared. But, it has come to the notice of the Commission that some officers were reportedly demanding money for giving information to the petitioners, she said while attending a programme at Nuzvid in Krishna district.
“Only those who do mistakes fear about the RTI Act. All the departments come under the Act and the officers should ensure that RTI Act is implemented property,” the Information Commissioner said. “If a mandal court serve summons, the officer will present promptly. But, when the RTI directed the officers to submit some information during hearings, the officer is deputing some lower rung staff which reflects the negligent attitude of the bureaucrats towards the Act,” they remarked.
Some bureaucrats are deliberately neglecting the Act and ignoring the petitioners
P. Vijaya Babu
RTI Commissioner
It has come to the Commission’s notice that a few officers are demanding money to part with information
Tantiya Kumari
RTI Commissioner
