A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement on Tuesday called on Chief Information Commissioner YK Sinha in Srinagar and apprised him about the implementation of RTI Act 2005 in J-K.
The delegation led by chairman RTI Movement Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat urged CIC to ensure better implementation of RTI as there is sharp decline in filing of RTI applications from last few years.
The members of RTI Movement submitted a memorandum urging upon the Chief Information Commissioner for his intervention on issues related to RTI implementation in J-K.
“We urged upon the CIC Y K Sinha for conducting massive RTI awareness by involving local NGO’s and theatre groups so that they reach out to the people in remotest areas of J-K,” Bhat said.
Bhat said that more than 800 central laws have been extended to J-K post abrogation of Article 370, but there is very meagre awareness about these laws.
“RTI Act 2005 is in operation in J-K for almost four years now but, the designated PIO’s and appellate authorities are not properly trained to implement and enforce this law with the result there has been a sharp decline in filing of RTI applications. We requested the CIC to address these lacunas and the CIC gave full assurance to take up this issue with Government,” Bhat said.
Senior members of J-K RTI Movement Farooq Kuthoo, Dr Mushtaq Khan, Shafiq Mir, Rayees Wathori and others also were part of the delegation.
