Delay in migrating to online mode impacting timely RTI replies

Expressing concern over the significant delay in responding to petitions filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Tamil Nadu Information Commission has urged the State government to facilitate online management of RTI applications/replies in all Secretariat Departments, offices of Heads of Departments and District Collectors.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary, the then Chief Information Commissioner said that the process of submitting RTI petitions through online mode had started in the Secretariat Departments and some District Collectorates, though it was not effective. However, there was much confusion in this process, causing significant delays in Public Information Officers responding to petitioners.

During the inquiry before the Commission, PIOs expressed difficulty in processing RTI petitions online. The then CIC MD. “This requires urgent attention so that the 30-day time limit prescribed in the RTI Act for PIOs to respond can be strictly complied with,” Shakeel Akhter said in his letter sent days before his retirement last month.

Latency complaints

He said petitions under Section 6(1) and preliminary objections under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 have not been achieved so far in all Secretariat Departments, HODs/District Collections and hence many petitioners have complained in this regard when they joined the inquiry in the Commission. Mr. Akhter was appointed CIC in June 2023 and held the position for three years.

“It is high time to take steps to file petitions under Section 6(1) and file initial objections under Section 19(1) online for all Secretarial Departments, HODs/District Collectors,” he said.

Mr. Akhter said that the Law was enacted with the preamble to promote transparency and accountability in the work of every public authority with the aim of strengthening fundamental constitutional values. This meant accommodating the conflicting interests of the administration to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information and the rights of citizens to know the workings of government processes in a way that preserved the supremacy of the democratic ideal.

He said that the link to the official website of the commission can be submitted to the site management for the information of all stakeholders, so that anyone who wishes outside the current working process can submit a petition within the scope of the Law through this link.

Proactive disclosure

In his earlier communication, Mr. Akhter had drawn the State government’s attention to Section 4(2) of the Act; This section had emphasized on providing ample information to the people at regular intervals through various means of communication, including the internet, to ensure that applicants get minimum benefit of this Act to obtain information.