Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, May 15 (KINS): As Central Information Commission (CIC) has started hearing Right to Information (RTI) cases of Jammu and Kashmir, there are over 370 cases which were pending for disposal in the State Information Commission when it was dissolved in the erstwhile state.
The Central Information Commission will start hearing appeals of Right to Information (RTI) applicants from the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh from Friday, May 15, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh said on Thursday
On behalf of the CIC, Senior Information Commissioner D P Sinha has been entrusted responsibility of RTIs from both the UTs.
An official said the central RTI Act 2005 has replaced J&K RTI Act 2009 in the new Union Territory.
The official told news agency KINS over 230 second appeals and 140 complaints under the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act were pending for disposal in the SIC when it was dissolved. “Till May 10, 2020, 111 second appeals and fresh complaints from the UT of J&K had been registered in the Central Information Commission consequent to the J&K Reorganization Act, which became applicable from October 31, 2019,” the official said.
He however said there would be further delay in disposing of complaints. “Over 26,000 applications are already pending with the CIC. There will be huge delay in hearing applications,” he added.
Meanwhile, Central Information Commission has asked the Chief Secretary of J&K UT BVR Subrahmanyam and Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department of UT of Ladakh to sensitize the CPIOs to iron out administrative/technical issues so as to facilitate smooth hearing of cases pertaining to these UTs.
Early this month the CIC had asked the administration of both the Union Territories to take steps for strict compliance to each and every provision of the Act in order to ensure utmost transparency in the functioning of all their departments. The Commission had also sought list of Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) so that hearings of 2nd appeals may be resumed by the Commission.
Moreover, the CIC has taken up the issue of outstanding Utilization Certificates in respect of grants sanctioned for the Information Commission of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir with the Chief Secretary of J&K Union Territory.
