Former bureaucrat turned politician and working president of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement, Dr Shah Faesal on Thursday said that lot more needs to be done to strengthen the institutions of transparency in the state.
In a statement Dr ShahFaesal said, “It is an irony that even a decade after the enactment of JK RTIAct 2009, the level of mass awareness regarding this act is still dismal. Atthe same time, there is a lot of resistance in the government offices toimplement various clauses of this Act. Section 4(a) which deals with thevoluntary disclosure of the information has not been implemented as per thespirit of the Act. Too often government officials resort to section 8 and hidethe information. Applicants are harassed in the name of RTI fee and timelinesare not also followed. Certain information is being denied without properreasons. The appellate jurisdiction of the State Information Commission underthe RTI Act is not being respected by the subordinate offices.”
Faesal said, “There is anurgent need to ensure that RTI Act is implemented in its true spirit so thatthere is a regime of transparency and accountability in the state. JKPM as oneof its priority items intend to implement the act in its letter and spirit andstrengthen not only the State Information Commission but also StateAccountability Commission and give it sue motto powers to deal with the casesof political corruption and the powers to investigate such cases whenever thereis a complaint.”
He said that JKPMwould also work towards making these institutions autonomous and putting inproper procedures in place so that the appointment of members of StateInformation Commission and State Accountability Commission is made free frompolitical interference.”