10,000 RTI applications pending in State: State Information Chief

16 cases decided, 3 officers fined, notices to remaining officials

Mysuru:  State Information Commissioner K.M. Chandre Gowda said that there are nearly 10,000 applications under Right to Information (RTI) Act, pending in the State.

He was chairing a meeting on cases in which information was sought by RTI applicants at the Zilla Panchayat office, here this morning.

In all, there were 30 cases, out of which 16 were decided and the remaining cases postponed to different dates including the one on Aug. 17 in Bengaluru.

The complaints related to RTI applicants seeking information about the funds released in Panchayat and Gram Panchayat offices, certificates issued with regard to SC,ST by the Tahsildar, information from the Labour Department with regard to 5(1) and 5(2) rules and the number of ‘wound certificates’ issued in K.R. Hospital.

One of the RTI applicants had sought information from Sarada Vilas Law College which is an aided college as to the percentage of admissions of SC, ST students.

The applicants complained that the officers concerned had not given the information in spite of repeated visits to the office.

Chandre Gowda took the officials to task and said that every official must first remember that he is a public servant and it was his duty and responsibility to give the information under RTI as demanded by the applicants.

Later, addressing the media, he said that the 10,000 applications were pending because for nearly two years Information Commissioner had not been appointed.

Now, some of the cases had been disposed off and the remaining would likely to be cleared this year.

Under the Public Records Act 2010, there is imprisonment for officials but there is no imprisonment under RTI Act and the maximum fine is Rs.25,000 imposed on the official for delay in providing information to the applicant, he said.