Info panel spares govt officers the rod

Info panel spares govt officers the rod Times Region [Next] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Info panel spares govt officers the rod Staff Crunch Delays Reply To RTI Queries http://mobilepaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=12§id=edid=&edlabel=TOICH&mydateHid=22-10-2012&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Chennai&edname=&articleid=Ar01200&publabel=TOI C D S Mani TNN Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief information commissioner K S Sripathi believes in giving a long rope to public information officers (PIOs).He told TOI that the state information commission (SIC) does not believe in punishing PIOs,who are dependent on various departments to collect information and reply to applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.We cant bow to pressure of RTI activists to take action against a PIO without examining all the issues involved, he said adding,the demoralizing effect on that the officers concerned has to be to considered. He attributes the delay in replying to RTI queries to manpower constraints and process.The SIC,which had just one chief information commissioner and one information commissioner since its inception,has inducted five more information commissioners this September,he pointed out.Lack of trained staff who are computer savvy and can handle the inflow of around 56,000 papers received by the commission in a calendar year,slows down the process of sifting through the petitions,appeals and references from various departments,he explained. However,RTI activist C Selvaraj demurs saying,the replies to queries have to be given within 30 days as mandated by the Act and the commission should work intelligently by prioritizing the petitions instead of attempting to respond to all the representations if there is a manpower shortage.V Gopalakrishnan,who has filed a legion of RTI applications,has problems with lack of sincerity of PIOs in doing their constitutional job and does not buy the official line regarding manpower constraints. Expressing inability to reveal the number of RTI applications received in a calendar year,Sripathi explains that the SIC only receives second appeals after applicants have made the first appeal to the concerned department from which information has been sought.Out of 12,000 to 13,000 second appeals received in a calendar year,the SIC disposes of moer than 8,000 plus appeals which makes TN one of the leading states in this regard.The commission receives only second appeals on alleged denials of information or delays in getting replies to RTI queries. On an average,about 100 show cause notices are issued in a calendar year to PIOs in Tamil Nadu and fines are imposed only after malafide intention is established.Usually the complaints are against departments like police and revenue with which the people tend to have more interaction, he said. Section 20 of the RTI Act empowers the commission to impose a penalty of Rs 250 per person per day of delay subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000 while deciding an appeal complaint.It can recommend disciplinary action against any erring PIO.

Article 124 (7) and article 220 (7) of the Constitution of India.

To The Public Information Officer, Under Right to Information ACT 2005, Ministry of law and justice, New Delhi Sir, Sub: Under the RTI ACT 2005 sec 6(1), request for furnishing information and attested Photo copy.- regarding. -------- 1. kindly supply copy of information about Retired judges of supreme courts can apply/appointed for any job in central or state government or public authority or any other court within the territory of India.". 2. kindly supply copy of information about Retired judges of high court can apply/appointed for any job, shall plead or act in any court or ." in central or state government before any authority in India except the Supreme Court and the other High Courts.". 3. kindly supply copy of information about Retired judges of supreme courts should not apply/appointed for any job in central or state government or public authority or any other court within the territory of India.". 4. kindly supply copy of information about Retired judges of high court should not apply/appointed for any job, shall plead or act in any court or ." in central or state government before any authority in India except the Supreme Court and the other High Courts.". 5. kindly supply copy of information about Retired chief judges of supreme courts can apply/appointed for any job in central or state government or public authority or any other court/commission within the territory of India.". 6. kindly supply copy of information about Retired chief judges of supreme courts should not apply/appointed for any job in central or state government or public authority or any other court/commission within the territory of India.". 7. kindly supply copy of Article 124 (7) and article 220 (7) of the Constitution of India. 8. kindly inform name of officer, destignation, office adress (other than court of law) to make complaint for any action taken by central/state governments in violation to any article of the Constitution of India.

Tamil Nadu State Information Commission members use red beacon lights illegally’

CHENNAI: Are state information commissioners entitled to red beacon light on their cars? No, say RTI activists in the city and allege that members of the Tamil Nadu State Information Commission (SIC) are flouting this rule. Activists say only 19 categories of dignitaries can use red beacons and SIC members is not in the list. V Gopalakrishnan, a city based RTI activist, said: "I brought this issue to the traffic police but no action has been taken. It is clear that the SIC members are not following the orders of Madras high court and state government. Then how can they impose a penalty on other public information officers?" Countering this, state chief information commissioner K S Sripati said: "According to the RTI act, the post of information commissioner is equal to that of chief secretary who is eligible to use a red beacon on his car. So there is nothing wrong in information commissioners using red beacon on their cars." Gopalakrishnan, however, said: "As long as the rule does not permit it, information commissioners cannot use red beacon on cars." A source in the Central Information Commission said chief information central commissioner Satyananda Mishra didn't use a red beacon on his car. "He is entitled to it but refused," said the source. According to the rules, red beacon lights on cars are to be used by the Governor, chief minister, deputy chief minister, high court chief justice, high court judges, legislative assembly speaker, cabinet ministers, leader of the opposition, state ministers, advocate-general, chief secretary, director-general of police, chairman of the legislative council, state election commissioner, lok ayukta, chairman of the advisory board constituted under the NSA and under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 (Goondas Act), the Nawab of Arcot and pilot and escort vehicles. But many in the state, including IAS officers, politicians and university vice-chancellors, flout this rule with impunity. A RTI filed by TOI revealed no action has been taken against such persons in the last ten years. In March, the Madras high court directed police to seize vehicles using red beacons without authorization on the basis of a public interest litigation petition filed by a Coimbatore-based advocate.