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| GAD miserably fails to reveal information | | Awareness on RTI, PSGA laws | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 18: Being nodal department for implementation of Right to Information Act (RTI) and Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA), the General Administration Department (GAD) has failed to provide information under RTI Act about the awareness programmmes conducted by Government towards understanding of these laws in Jammu & Kashmir.
Details available with Early Times reveal that Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement with an aim of knowing how many workshops, seminars and other sensitization programmes were conducted by Government for its officials and general masses for understanding of RTI Act and PSGA, the department has failed to reveal the details under J&K RTI Act 2009 inspite of a lapse of more than 2 ½ months. GAD instead of providing the details forwarded the RTI application to all the administrative departments but they also have allegedly not revealed any details.
RTI Movement through its Chairman Dr Raja Muzaffar had sought following details from GAD vide RTI application dated 6.10.2018 that was send to Public Information Officer (PIO) of GAD via speed post when the civil secretariat was functional in Srinagar
Details of workshops, seminars, awareness camps held by Government for general public towards understanding of J&K Public Services Guarantee Act 2011 for the3 past seven years.
Present status of implementation of section 4 (1) (b) and section 23 of J&K RTI Act 2009. Budget allocation for awareness of J&K Public Services Guarantee Act 2011 and J&K RTI Act 2009. Provide details of the allocations wef from 2009 March till date with year wise details
Copies of official communication made by GAD with all the HODs and Deputy Commissioners vis a vis conducting awareness programmes for general public for understanding of PSGA 2011 & J&K RTI Act 2009
"First of all we fail to understand why was our RTI application forwarded to other administrative departments as the information is very much available with General Administ-ration Department (GAD). This is official misuse of RTI law especially section 6 (3) of this act. More than 2 ½ have passed no other public authority have responded. How can they respond as they have nothing to answer because Govt is not even training its own officials on RTI and PSG Act. Creating awareness for general masses is a dream for us . I appeal Chief Secretary and Secretary GAD to intervene " said Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Khan General Secretary of RTI Movement
Sources have told Early Times that officials who are designated officers under PSGA are unaware what their job is as not even 10 % of these officers have been trained by J&K Government. Recently an RTI activist from Safapora Ganderbal Sohail Khan was denied the information on similar issue when he sought details from DC office Ganderbal about workshops held for Govt officials and public on PSGA. The Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs) designated under J&K RTI Act 2009 also continue to make gross mistakes while dealing with RTI applications and appeals and they continue to be penalized and reprimanded by State Information Commission (SIC). The main reason is Govt is hardly holding awareness programmes for them in state.
RTI Movement has already agitated this issue before High Court where a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed for better implementation of RTI law especially to create awareness and digitization of Govt record under section 4 and 23 of J&K RTI Act 2009. |
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