Increased awareness about the Right to Information Act (RTI) had given sleepless nights to a section of bureaucracy and politicians. The RTI Act    with intensive awareness campaign launched by the State Information Commission and media was steadily emerging as an effective tool for bringing about some accountability in the administration. The   active involvement of a section youth in spreading the information about the act amongst the rural population and assisting and guiding the people in filling petitions under the Act before the officers had send tremors to the vested interest in the administration and public life. The people’s enthusiasm about   seeking information under the Act held a promise if not for eradicating the corruption completely from the administration but at least in curbing it to an extent.  The increasing activism of youth in seeking redress of public grievances under the Act augured well for strengthening their belief in democracy and democratic institutions.  In 2010, the state government was sincere in introducing RTI rules in the state is an admitted fact.  However, what has come as rude shock to people in general and civil society in particular is repealing of these rules and replacing them by toothless 2012 laws. None other than the Chief Information Commissioner, known for his integrity, opposed the repealing of the 2010 rules. The State Information Commission after passing some landmark judgments had largely established its credibility amongst the people. It was seen as an institution instrumental in bringing about some transparency in the working of the state government. The state administration with all its alibis has failed to defend its wrong decision. In its defence, the government has stated that some amendments in the rules were carried out on the behest of the Chief Information Commission. The CIC has contested this claim. Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, former Chief Information Commission in Government of India, who had played a pioneering rule in framing the 2010 rules has taken an exception to changing of these rules. He has written a letter to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah opposing ‘disempowerment’ of the State Information Act and asking him to reconsider his decision. The state government should reintroduce 2010 rules, in which people at large have shown some faith.  

Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST