The State Information Commission has taken up 8,616 petitions in the last three years for enquiry and providing information to people, State Information Commissioner Sharadha Nambi Arooran said in Thanjavur on Tuesday.
Ms. Arooran told journalists that all public institutions, both government and government-aided institutions were required to provide the necessary information sought by people under the Right to Information Act. They cannot deny information to people. Private institutions do not come under the purview of the Act.
She said private complaints such as demand for getting ration cards and pension benefits were received. But these cannot be entertained as they do not come under the purview of the Act. Hence, out of the total petitions received, one third was rejected.
People could approach the Public Information Officers in government departments and offices to get the required information. The officers could take 30 days to act and if they failed to act within the stipulated period, people could appeal to the appellant authorities concerned. There also 30 days of time was permitted. If no information was given here too, people could approach the State Commission.
“I am here for the past two days and has been receiving petitions from people of Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Pudukottai districts. Revenue and land related petitions are presented more in Thanjavur. Many people have taken information about lands and this helped them in establishing their rights and getting pattas in court cases,” she said.
There was no prescribed format for submitting a petition. Mere white paper would do. People could write complaints, put their signature and give them to the Public Information Officer. The State Commission would take stern action against an official if he or she gave wrong, misleading or incomplete information. A fine of Rs. 25,000 can be imposed on an erring official as per the Act. Fine was imposed on f50 officials so far and departmental disciplinary actions suggested in many cases.
