Baramulla, July 21: The Chief Information Commissioner, G R Sofi today said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had every right to know about the functioning of the administration and the introduction of RTI Act was a revolutionary step in achieving the goal of good governance in the State.
 Addressing a seminar on Right To Information Act organized by Human Aid Society, an NGO at Dak Bungalow here, Sofi said, the Act was people friendly and aimed to make the authorities accountable. He said every citizen had the right to know the pace of developmental works in his area and any person can seek information from the authorities within a stipulated time. He said if the information was not provided, within the specific time, one has the right to approach the Commission.
 “It is the duty of every public information officer (PIO) to provide the information within a period of 30 days. Even if the information is not provided, then the concerned authority has to give in writing as to why it had denied the information,” said CIC.
 He said as per the RTI Act, any person was entitled to seek information except the information which had potential to affect the integrity and the sovereignty of the country or information which had been directed by the Court not to reveal.
 Sofi said the Act would empower the people at grass root level. While referring to 1935 Supreme Court judgment when the RTI Act was not in force, Sofi informed the participants that judgment reads as “In a government of responsibility like ours, every public agent must be responsible for their conduct. There can be but a few secrets, the people of this country have right to know of every act, every thing that is done for the people and they are entitled to know every thing being done for them”. He said it indicates that every citizen had right to seek any information even before the Act was introduced.
 Later a question answer session was held where people sought the information about the Act.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST