CIC wants paperless info flow under RTI

Filing and receiving information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act could soon be a paperless affair. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has proposed ‘e-ministration’ of government departments so that public records are accessible online and can be used to provide information under RTI. When implemented, this would mean that a person can file an RTI application online. The department’s public information officer will be able to access government records on the internet and send a reply, also online, cutting down on delays and increasing transparency within the system. At present, CIC is the only agency that receives online appeals under RTI. Bihar took a step in this direction recently by accepting RTI applications on phone. Though the RTI Act has been in operation for three years, applicants continue to face delays in receiving rudimentary information. A proposal to harmonise the government’s computerisation plan with the RTI roadmap has now been sent to the PMO.
The stumbling block in this process could be the fee that is required to be paid when an applicant asks for large amounts of information. While the CIC will be working with central government ministries and departments, state information commissioners will be asked to work in consonance with district and panchayat-level administration for online access to records at the grassroots level.The RTI watchdog will be meeting state information commissioners in October to discuss the issue further.

IPCL divestment: CIC asks for more information

The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed the government to disclose to an information seeker details pertaining to the sale of petrochemicals major IPCL to Reliance Industries. Information Commissioner M M Ansari has asked Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to furnish a copy of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as entered between the government and the successful bidders in the privatisation process of Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL).The decision comes in wake of a Right to Information application filed by Mumbai-based resident Ganshi Devraj Visaria, who had sought from Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals information regarding IPCL's privatisation. The Commission will, however, decide on the question of allowing disclosure of the ministry's correspondence with other parties in a later hearing involving the Ministry of Disinvestment. Visaria in his application had also sought details on the government's disinvestment policy and the minutes relating to AS & FA Committee besides other details of IPCL sale. The Commission has asked Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals to allow inspection of all relevant records and files by Visaria within 15 days.