Andhra Pradesh

Major lapses in implementation of Right to Information Act

VISAKHAPATNAM: Many people desirous of receiving information under RTI have to wait for a long time or do not receive information at all, at least from GVMC.

According to sources, of the total 53 applications in the GVMC office from January to March this year seeking information under RTI, only 19 have been disposed of and 34 are still pending. On December 2 last year, a resident of Srikakulam sought information from the GVMC public information officer under the Act about the norms for setting up of a school in the city, the total number of existing municipal schools and the aided schools. But he did not receive any answer nor did he get the reason for refusal of his application within the stipulated time.

In fact, the applicant is still waiting for an answer after eight months of filing the application.

When contacted by The Hindu, the Deputy Education Officer, K. Vijay Kumar, said: “The entire question was not in our purview. Some part of the question has to be answered by District Education Department and some by Town Plann ing. Our department had prepared the answer on January 22 itself. But due to Education Superintendent’s office being vacant for some time, the delay occurred. The application has been forwarded to the District Education Department and Town Planning.”

According to the RTI Act, if the public information officer to whom the question is addressed does not answer it within the 30 days of the receipt of the application, the request is considered refused. The officer then has to send the reason for refusal to the applicant.

In another case, a resident of Lawson’s Bay Colony did not get the answer to his queries from GVMC. He had to appeal to the State Commission to get information.

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