Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 9: The Division Bench (DB) of J&K High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magray has granted government more time to file its response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seeking directions for implementation of the Right to Information Act in its totality.
A Division Bench of the court directed the state through Chief Secretary as well as Secretary State Information Commission, and Registrar General of the High Court to file the response by November 23.
The PIL, filed by a practicing lawyer advocate Firdous Ahmad Parray, mainly seeks the implementation of section 4 of the RTI Act, which is considered sole of the Transparency Law.
In order to curb the menace of corruption in the state and to bring transparency and accountability in the system, the state legislature promulgated the RTI Act, 2009, the petitioner said.
"Under section 4 of the Act (supra), it was obligatory upon every department to disclose information voluntarily within a period of 120 days from the enforcement of the Act on 20.03.2009," the petitioner said.
The information, he said, shall be furnished by every Government department, semi Government organization, Public Sector bank with more than 50% government share, board or a corporation.
The petitioner also has sought directions to the Director Information, Government Broadcasting Agencies to broadcast programme in order to make general public aware about the RTI Act. |
