The Puducherry Environment and Mangrove Forest Protection Society has sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, urging him to appoint a State Commissioner to deal with appeals under the Right to Information Act 2005.
Drawing Mr. Modi’s attention to the poor implementation of provisions of the Act in the Union Territory, M. Selvamanikandan of the society said the purpose of the Act is to bring transparency and accountability in all the activities and functions of the government.
Under the Act, the Public Information Officers (PIOs) and appellate authorities have not been disclosing information that are important to the public. On the contrary, it is becoming standard practice for them to give vague responses.
Credibility under cloud“The proportion of cases where the appellate authorities have upheld the orders and decisions of the lower authorities is so high that the credibility of the whole mechanism is brought under cloud,” he said.
