Poor functioning of Haryana Information Commission

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Pawan Kumar Bansal

09 May, 2011

The Haryana Information Commission seems to be in a disarray. Some of the State Information commissioners are unaware about the Right to Information act - making mockery of the important legislation that has empowered the whole country.

SIX YEARS have passed since Right to Information act was implemented and State Information Commmission was set up in Haryana with retired Chief secretary G. Madhwan as its first Chief Information Commission.

Apart from deciding cases, the job of the commission is to to create awareness about the act. Most of state public information officers, supposed to provide information under the act, are still unaware of the provision of the act, and they deny information on flimsy grounds.

Shockingly, some of the state information commissioners are also unaware about the act. Subash, convener of Haryana Suchna Adhikar Manch, filed a second appeal before state information commissioner Asha Sharma against State public information officer of chief secretary, Haryana office.

Asha Sharma asked the applicant to file first appeal before director National rural health Mission, Haryana. Furious over the reply Subash complained to the chief information commissioner, Meenakashi Anand Chodhary that either the state information commissioner did not have correct knowledge of right to information act or she had decided about the appeal without examining all facts.

Subash wrote that he was not challenging the capability of the state information commissioner but persons holding constitutional posts should follow rules failing which will be dangerous for democratic system.

In a number of cases, special information officers have denied information due to lack of knowledge about the act. Anuj of Rohtak was denied information by state public information officer cum district public relations officers, Rohtak, home town of Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda - asking him to inform in which channel or newspaper he was working, besides, complete address and other details.

Under the act, not only journalists but any citizen of the country even a convict can seek information. Similarly, the authorities of Municipal corporation, Rohtak replied to applicant Ajay Godara that information regarding inspections of maps of buildings is not covered under the act. This list is endless.

What the commission and government should do is to educate special information officers about he provisions of the act by holding workshops. They should be asked to read booklet titled 'How to use R.T.I.', which should be made available in markets at nominal prices. The government is spending crores of rupees annually for purchasing books under sar swiksha abhiyan.

Ten days have passed since the retirement of Meenakshi Chodhary, Chief Information Commissioner, the government, is yet to convene a meeting for appointing her successor. Hectic lobbying is going on for this post and the post of state information commissioner.

Saroj Siwach, I.A.S officer and daughter of former chief minister Bansi Lal, has also joined the race - putting chief minister Hooda in very embrassing position as while Ranbir Mohindera and other family members are supporting her - firebrand Kiran Choudhary, daughter-in-law of Bansi lal, is opposing her claim.

Although the government has constituted R.T.I. cell at office of chief secretary at state level and at offices of deputy commissioner's but they did not have adequate employees.

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COMMENTS (2)

Subash.Rohtak

Special public information officer of state vigilance department had denied information about arrest of officers in corruption case stating that it was not covered under the act.