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| No order issued for last 50 days! | | Can't SIC operate from Jammu? | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 20: As the unrest continues in Kashmir valley various institutions have almost collapsed and among such institutions is Jammu & Kashmir State Information Commission (SIC) which was created more than 7 years back after enactment of J&K Right to Information Act 2009 (JK RTI Act 2009). The Information Commission as per reliable information has not issued a single order from July 1st onwards which has raised severe question mark on the credibility of this organisation. The commission as on date is run by a single Information Commissioner, and no case has been decided by the commission from its Jammu office as well , which is a matter of great concern say some RTI campaigners.
Details available with Early Times reveals that State Information Commission (SIC) has disposed off 19 cases during the month of June 2016 , but from 1st July onwards as per data available on official website of the Information Commission (www.jksic.nic.in) not a single case has been disposed off until August 20. Sources said that situation in State Vigilance Commission (SVC) and State Accountability Commission (SAC) is much worst than SIC. The SVC is fully operational having one State Chief Vigilance Commissioner and two other Vigilance Commissioners looking after its affairs, similarly the Accountability Commission has a Chairman and two members to dispose off cases, but the disposal rate is much less than Information commission.
Pertinent to mention that a lone State Information Commissioner operates from Srinagar office of the Commission (SIC) . The RTI appeal cases from Jammu pending before the commission are increasing day by as appellants can't afford to travel all along to Srinagar. RTI activists say that prevailing volatile situation in valley has further aggravated this problem. Activists had requested the Information Commissioner to shift to Jammu for disposal of cases, but as per sources the cases are not decided at Jammu office , and even if some cases are decided , the details of these cases is not kept in public domain through the official website of the commission.
Out of 3 Commissioners in SIC , only one commissioner is looking after the commission as two other commissioners G R Sufi Chief Information Commissioner and D S K Sharma Information Commissioner retired in Feb 2016 and October 2015 respectively. Present Information Commissioner Nazir Ahmad now hears cases both from Kashmir and Jammu. Sources said that Nazir Ahmad hears some cases through video conferencing as well, but many people from Jammu region are not able to travel all along to Srinagar and from last 25 days not a single case has been disposed off by SIC due to ongoing agitation in valley.
Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) G R Sufi retired early this year after completing his term in the State Information Commission (SIC), the SIC almost became defunct as one Information Commissioner (IC) Nazir Ahmad has to look after RTI related complaints and appeals from all parts of the state. RTI Activists Dr Mushtaq Khan, Balvinder Singh, Bilal Bhat, Raman Sharma have appealed CM and Governor for immediate intervention as absence of Information Commissioners will make SIC non functional.
It is important to mention that G R Sufi State Chief Information Commissioner(CIC) retired in Feb 2016 completing his 5 year term in SIC. Earlier another Information Commissioner Dr S K Sharma who looked after cases pertaining to Jammu division also retired in October. It was hoped that PDP-BJP coalition Government would appoint new commissioner after consulting the leader of opposition, but that didn't happen for months. As per the provisions of J&K RTI Act 2009 the Information Commissioners and Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) can only be appointed by the Governor when the selection committee consisting of CM , Leader of Opposition , and one cabinet Minister nominated by CM recommends the suitable candidate.
RTI activists have appealed Information Commissioner Mr Nazir Ahmad to dispose of RTI cases on fast track basis. " We again appeal Hon'ble Information Commissioner Nazir Ahmad to shift to Jammu for some time so that cases pertaining to Jammu division are at least disposed off until situation in valley becomes normal" said Balvinder Singh Jammu based Convener of Sangharsh RTI Movement. |
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