Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh,The Punjab Government has instructed all the departments to implement Right to Information Act in its true spirits by providing the information in time.
Taking cognizance of reports regarding delay from different social organisations, strict instructions have been issued to adhere to timeline as specified in RTI Act-2005. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson said that certain NGOs have brought this issue into the notice of the state government that Some Public Authorities/ State Information Officers have been blatantly violating the provisions of the RTI, Act-2005. These NGOs have alleged that Public Authorities/ State Information Officers of some department have wilfully ignoring to implement the Sub sections 2(j),3,4(4),5(1),6(3),18(1),19(5),20(1), and 20(2) of the RTI, Act-2005. It has been alleged that in the absence of these provisions Public Authorities/ State Information Officers withhold the information or delay the information tacitly.
The Spokesperson said that the state government has taken serious note of the lackadaisical approach of Public Authorities/ State Information Officers in implementing the sub section of the RTI, Act-2005. In written instruction to all the departmental heads it has been directed to personally ensure the implementation of the RTI, Act in true spirits. Terming the delay in proving information as a serious blot on the working of the State Government, department has now been directed to maintain the record of all the applications and fee received from the applicants on prescribed Performa.
He further said that Departmental Heads have been asked to further issue written instruction to the Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities to implement the provisions of RTI, Act-2005 and to maintain the records as per the provisions under rule 3(3) and 4(6) of Punjab State Information Rule, 2007 with intimation to Governance Reforms Department.
