Nagpur: When it comes to working out RTI replies, the office of Divisional Commissioner has been tagged as “Late Lateef.” A whopping 1200 cases of RTI are pending in the key government department! Nagpur Division consists of Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.
The 2005 Right to Information (RTI) Act was provided more teeth and made effective when came to the notice of concerned authorities that babus in various departments were turning a Nelson’s eye and hesitating in giving information sought by citizens under the provisions of the Act. The RTI Act mandates timely response to citizens’ requests for government information. It is an initiative taken by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the citizens were bestowed with basic rights under Section 19(1) of the Act. Under the provisions of the Act, any citizen of India may request information from a “public authority” which is required to reply expeditiously or within thirty days. The main aim of the Act is to bring transparency in the working of government departments/ministries of Central as well as State Government.
However, the office of Divisional Commissioner has been found mocking at the RTI Act as it is sitting idly over 1200 queries posed by citizens.
The reason:
The day the State Information Commissioner of Nagpur Division Gaekwad was transferred the work of RTI has come to a standstill. Cases are pending day by day. However, Dilip Dharadkar too the charge around a month ago giving a hope that the matter would get streamlined and the information sought by citizens “pour in.”
