The United Forum for RTI Campaign (UFRTI) has demanded that the Telangana government immediately create a new Information Commission for the State to clear the confusion regarding the status of the existing Commission. According to the UFRTI members, the present Commission could then continue to cater to the AP State.
“The RTI act does not allow for a common commission for both States” said B. Ramakrishnam Raju, Convenor, UFRTI, “This being the first State division after 2005, there is a lot of confusion over the existing AP State Information Commission.
For some strange reason, the A.P Reorganization Act 2014 is silent on the status of the Commission. While many other commissions found place in the 10th schedule of the Act, APSIC was not mentioned.
The Commission also realised this very late and took up the issue with the Union Home Ministry and also with both the State governments.”
The members criticised the Union Home Ministry for not responding to the issue.
The UFRTI, on Friday, held a press meet to announce its State-level meetings post-bifurcation in the new States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Office-bearers for the respective State committees will be elected at the meetings to be held on July 26 at Karimnagar and July 27 at Vijayawada. Activists demanded dedicated budget be allotted by the government for training, publicity and strict implementation of the Act.
