Date:13/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/13/stories/2008081354050300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Only 25 p.c. of applications forwarded to SIC: study

Staff Reporter

BAPATLA: The average disposal time for cases filed under section 19 of the Right to Information Act is nearly 120 days and the disposal time in certain cases even extended up to 12 to 14 months, revealed a study on performance of State Information Commission undertaken by United Forum on RTI Campaign.

The Forum has undertaken the study to assess the performance of the SIC, which was a vital component in the effective implementation of the RTI.

The study revealed that 31,964 applications were filed under RTI across the State in 2007, out of which 7,780 filed appeals to the SIC. It meant that nearly 25 per cent of the applications were being forwarded to the SIC indicating the non-compliance of the act by most Public Information Officers.

Forum district convener P. Sai Baba said inordinate delay in disposing of cases on flimsy grounds after a long duration had diluted the purpose of the act. The SIC was also indicted of going slow on imposition of penalties as the Commission was found to have imposed fine in only one case.

The work allocation among the officers was also found to be irrational as nearly 50 per cent of appeals and complaints were being handled by the Chief Information Commissioner, while the other three commissioners handled the remaining cases.

He also added that a very high number of cases were being filed by government personnel giving enough proof of lack of transparency in governance.