RTI Movement in J&K

The GAD, vide order 1215-GAD-2010 dated 26 Oct. 2010 (see below) has instructed the Administrative Secretaries to prepare a weekly report for the Chief Secretary and Chief Minister detailing the work accomplished that week, including disposal of RTI applications. The order also instructs DCs to prepare daily reports on work accomplished in their district. This is a welcome development.

It is worth mentioning here that there are 3 other mechanisms for RTI monitoring which are presently defunct due to various reasons:

1. Departments are required to prepare an annual report on RTI implementation that is submitted to the State Info Commission under Section 22 of the Act

2. Departments are required to detail to the A-G’s office steps on RTI implementation during quarterly audits under Section 41 of the 2010 Rules

3. Departments are required to send a senior functionary to appear before the Commission each year to discuss RTI implementation under Section 44 of the 2010 Rules.

As such, it appears that information on RTI implementation is now being collected by 3 different authorities: (1) the SIC on an annual basis, (2) the A-G’s office on a quarterly basis, and (3) the Chief Secretary on a weekly basis. It’s not clear how this monitoring overlaps and is coordinated and, accordingly, it shall be one of the first things we raise when the Information Commission is eventually appointed.

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