RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT LECTURE

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT

critique of RTI act as it is dec 2013

Deficiencies :

1. missing definitions:
1. substantial financing by pubic authority is not clear as to what constitutes substantial interms of percentage or amount.
2. indirect financing: by govt - it is not clear as to whether giving funds is only considered or if tax concessions, subisidies, infra facilities, land allotment also constitute indirect financing and if yes who will be left out of the ambit
3. life and liberty: there is no definition of info falling under life and liberty
4. public interest: used liberally but not defined . need to define public interest but also specify the metrics and methods to quantify it .
5. no provision for ensuring the fulfilment of obligations on public authorities: obligations relating to proper record management, suo moto dissemination of info through publications which is not specified and made obligatory with punishment for not doing so.
6. confusion about first applete authority: it is not clear whether information commission can entertain appeal when the first appeal has not been preferred by the appellant.
7. confusion about the status of FAA vis a vis the IC 
8. appeal procedure:whether appeal can be made to IC itself
9. overlapping of the grounds of appeal and complaints: sec 18 and 19 are overlapping.
10. absence of contempt provisions:19.7.not supported by contempt proceedings
11. information commissions and powers of civil courts:execution of decree civil court powers not given and recovery of fine civil court powers not given to IC.
12. no time limit for IC to decide the appeal: second appeallate authority does not have a time limit. 
13. disclosure of file notings : now included 
14. protection to whistle blower: still not available but covered under different acts
15. transparency in judicial functioning is still to be obtained .
16. right to info at district level needs better resources and infrastructure.
17. administrative reforms can be aided by RTI in terms of record keeping, time bound ness, accountability, polite ness, 
18. good governance is defined as 
1. political accountability
2. regular elections
3. participation
4. process of governance
5. rule of law
6. independent judiciary
7. freedom of information 
8. transparency
9. efficient effective admn
10. coop between govt and civil society
19. RTI can provide tools for good governance in terms of 
1. promote open ness
2. empower people
3. prevent admn highhanded ness
4. bridge gap between provider and recipient of public service
5. make inclusive decision making
6. provide responsive admn
7. grass root democracy
8. people access their rights
20. type of efficiency in governance:
1. policy efficiency
2. service efficiency
3. administrative efficiency
21. requirements for efficiency in operation of this act
1. mental revolution attitude change
2. government service conduct rules
3. official secrets act
4. ministers oath of secrecy and anonymity
5. record keeping using IT
6. issue of detailed instructions
7. capacity building / training
8. adequate financial arrangements
9. publicity
10. public accountability and transparency in admn
11. cleansing tool of govt, for govt and by govt 

All Police Stations in State to Have Women Receptionists

By Express News Service - HYDERABAD

Published: 18th December 2013 08:47 AM

Last Updated: 18th December 2013 08:47 AM

In order to ensure free registration of all cognisable offences as well as courteous behaviour with the people, Director General of Police (DGP) B Prasada Rao on Tuesday issued orders posting women receptionists at all police stations to receive victims and accept complaints from them.

Additional Director General of Police, co-ordination, V K Singh said in a statement that the Andhra Pradesh police have taken a host of measures to improve reception of people at police stations and redressal of their grievances.

‘’Lady receptionists have been posted at all police stations barring a few Naxalite- affected districts. Strict orders have been issued to register all cognisable offences freely and behave with the people courteously. Prasada Rao has taken strict action including suspension of deviant police officers and registration of criminal cases against corrupt officers last week. Pending stolen/seized properties in the custody of police are being returned to the complainants ,’’ he said.

The DGP has also ordered all the police responses to be monitored from police headquarters. If any person has any problem with regard to registration of a case or a poor response from the police, he can address the DGP or personally meet Additional DGP at the DGP office. The victims can also contact the police over phone 040-23212839, on any working days between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

call dgp for public 040-23212839

All Police Stations in State to Have Women Receptionists

By Express News Service - HYDERABAD

Published: 18th December 2013 08:47 AM

Last Updated: 18th December 2013 08:47 AM

In order to ensure free registration of all cognisable offences as well as courteous behaviour with the people, Director General of Police (DGP) B Prasada Rao on Tuesday issued orders posting women receptionists at all police stations to receive victims and accept complaints from them.

Additional Director General of Police, co-ordination, V K Singh said in a statement that the Andhra Pradesh police have taken a host of measures to improve reception of people at police stations and redressal of their grievances.

‘’Lady receptionists have been posted at all police stations barring a few Naxalite- affected districts. Strict orders have been issued to register all cognisable offences freely and behave with the people courteously. Prasada Rao has taken strict action including suspension of deviant police officers and registration of criminal cases against corrupt officers last week. Pending stolen/seized properties in the custody of police are being returned to the complainants ,’’ he said.

The DGP has also ordered all the police responses to be monitored from police headquarters. If any person has any problem with regard to registration of a case or a poor response from the police, he can address the DGP or personally meet Additional DGP at the DGP office. The victims can also contact the police over phone 040-23212839, on any working days between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

PRECOURSE TEST

Workshop on right to information act for fsl

Precourse test

Sharada avadhanam

1. For the fist time in the world, in the year 1776, a convention of granting right to information to all citizens was passed [true/false]

2. UN general assembly declared freedom of information as basic right even at the time of our independence [true/false]

3. Freedom of speech and expression under article 19 of Constitution Of India includes RTI [true/false]

4. RTI act 2005 is the first act in India on RTI [true/false]

5. The RTI act came into effect from sept 2005 [true/false]

6. The main objective of the RTI act is to promote transparency and accountability in the working of public authority [true/false]

7. Access to information promotes transparency and accountability and this strengthens democracy [true/false]

8. As per RTI act proactive disclosure of information is to be done within 120 days of the act and updated periodically by the public authorities [true/false]

9. FSL is a public authority under the RTI act and is obliged to proactive disclosures as listed out in the act. [true/false]

10. The RTI act overrides all acts in force including the official secrets act 1923 [true/false]

11. The vigilance cases do not come under the purview of RTI act [true/false]

12. The user guide on the department/ lab is to be published by the appropriate government within 18 months [true/false]

13. Certain central / state intelligence and security organisations are exempted from the act [true/false]

14. Public authority means

a. Established under the constitution

b. Established by the parliament

c. Established by a law of the state legislature

d. Established by appropriate government [ ]

15. As per the RTI act the role of the public authority is

a. Maintenance of records

b. Computerization of records

c. Proactive disclosure of information

d. Designate PIO [ ]

16. Role of the PIO is

a. Receive applications from public

b. Maintain information

c. Obtain if not available

d. Dispose the application [ ]

17. The PIO is required to furnish information

a. Within 30 days of application

b. Within 48 hours of application in cases of life and liberty

c. Collect the required fee

d. Reject the request stating reasons [ ]

18. The role of officer whose assistance is sought by PIO is

a. Render all assistance to the pIo

b. He will be treated as PIO

c. The act will apply to him

d. He will not have any responsibility [ ]

19. Request for information by the public is to be made

a. In writing

b. Specifying the particulars

c. Accompanied by fee

d. No reason to be given why he needs the information [ ]

20. Appeal can be made by the public

a. To appellate authority after expiry of 30 days after the application

b. Against the orders of the PIO

c. To information commissioner within 90 days on the decision of AA

d. Time limits can be waived [ ]

21. Penalty can be imposed on PIO by information commissioners

a. For refusal to receive application from public

b. If the information is not furnished within 30 days of application

c. Knowingly giving wrong information

d. After giving reasonable opportunity to the PIO [ ]

Answers

Question	Answer
	True
	True
	True subject to reasonable restrictions to be placed by the state
	False
	Some provisions from 21 june 2005 and fully from 120 days after that date
	True
	True
	True
	True
	True
	False
	True
	True
	All
	All
	All
	All
	All
	All
	All
	All

State CIC	Name	Phone	Address	Email / web site
AP	CD ARHA	040 23452620	Secretariat Hyderabad 500022	http://scic.ap.gov.in
ASSAM	RS MOOSHAHARY	0361 2261676 0361 2261900 0361 2261676	Janata Bhavan, Dispur Guwahati 781006	cic@sicassam.in http://www.sicassam.in
CHANDIGARH	AK VIJAYAVARGIYA	0771 4024406 0771 4024140 0771 2331012	Nirmal Chhaya Bhavan, Meera Datar Road, Shanker Nagar Raipur 492001	http://www.cg.nic.in/sic akijayvargiya@nic.in
GOA	A VENKATARATNAM	0832 2413774 09860287282	Shrama Shakti Bhavan, Potato Panaji Goa 403401	avr@nic.in http://egov.goa.nic.in/ rtipublic/sic.aspx
GUJARAT	RN DAS	0792 3252701 0792 3252966 0792 3230993	Bureau Of Economics And Statistics Building, Sector 18 Gandhi Nagar 382018	gscic@gujarat.gov.in http://intrnet.guj.nic.in/gic
HARYANA	G MADHAVAN	0172 2726568 0172 2793628	State Information Commission Haryana CO No 70-71, Sector 8C, Mahya Marg Chandigarh	madhavang@hry.nic.in http://cicharyana.gov.in
HP	PS RANA	0177 2621904 0177 2880726 0177 2612236 0177 2652538	No 222, Arms Dale, HP Secretariat, Shimla 171002
KARNATAKA	KK MISRA	080 22370091 080 22371192 080 22371191	III Floor, III Stage, Multistoried Buildings Dr. Ambedkar Road, Bangalore 560001	scic@karnataka.gov.in http://www..kic.gov.in
KERALA	PALATT MOHANDAS	0471 2320920 0471 2330920 0471 2333147	Punnan Road, Thiruvanantapuram 695039
MP	TN SRIVASTAVA	0755 2761367 09425365434	Nirwachan Bhawan, Second Floor, 58, Arera Hills Bhopal 462011	http://www.mpsic.nic.in
MAHARASHTRA	SURESH VINAYAKRAO JOSHI	022 22022859 022 22856078 09821525427	15 Floor, New Admn Building, Madame Cama Road, Opp Mantralaya, Mumbai 400032
MEGHALAYA	GP WAHTANG	0642 226102	Secretariat, Shillong 1	gpw@shillong.meg.nic.in
MIZORAM	ROBERT HRANGDAWLA	2334833 2316001 09436140247
NAGALAND	P TALITEMJEN AO	0370 2292595 0370 2291798 0370 2242983	PB 148, Kohima 797001	Cic_nagaland@yahoo.co.in
ORISSA	DIRENDRA NATH PADHI	0674 2534300	Soochana Bhavan, State Guest House, Annexe Room No 44, Unit 5, Bhubaneswar 751001	Hon_scic@ori.nic.in http://orissasuchana commission.nic.in
PUNJAB	RAJAN KASHYAP	0172 2740543 0172 2740543 0172 2740353	State Information Commission Punjab SCO 84-85 SECTOR 17C, CHANDIGARH	http://www.infocommpunjab.com
TN	S RAMAKRISHNAN		89 Alagappa Rod, Purusawalkam Chennai 600084	http://www..tn.gov.in/ rti/sic.htm
TRIPURA	BK CHAKRABORTY	0381 2218021 09436120039	Civil Secretariat, Agartala, West Tripura 799001	Scic-tic-tr@nic.in
UTTARANCHAL	RS TOLIA	0135 2712100 0135 2712200 0135 2712079 0135 2666779	4, Subhash Road, 4th Floor, Dehradun 248001
UP	JUSTICE MOHD ASGAR KHAN	0522 2288598 0522 2235798 0522 2288600	6th Floor, Indira Bhawan, Lucknow 226001
WEST BENGAL	ARUN BHATTACHARYA	033 24791966	WBIC, 2 Floor, Bhabani Bhaban, Alipore, Kolkata 700027