RTI in Proper Information Management

RTI in Proper Information Management

The Right to Information Act was enacted in the year 2005 and since then it is continuously working as a tool of ensuring transparency in public sector organizations. The section 4(1) states the provisions for pro-active disclosure of information on the website and public domain so that people not require to apply with RTI act to take the information from the offices. In case the information will be made available on digital platforms, the number of RTI applications will automatically reduced significantly.

In case, the RTI act' compliance is not properly ensured the applicants have freedom to request First Applette Authority (FAA) for getting the information available as per the provisions of the act. In case, the applicant not satisfied then there are provisions to go to the information commission and seek proper action for improper compliance of the Act.

With the fear of imposition of penalty, the government officers give priority to provide the information in the stiputed time frame of RTI Act. Recently, the Satark Nagrik Sangathan prepared a "Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions" which stated that almost 97% of the cases with violation of RTI Act (during 2018-19), didn't imposed any penalties on the officers and due to this failure of the information commission; the offices will start further violating the act.

Further, the government organizations have also started to use 'Record Retention Schedule' to dispose off the old official records as per the service rules.