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| Recommends measures to strengthen transparency mechanism |
The seminar was inaugurated
by Chief Secretary, B R Sharma and was attended by Chief Information Commissioner
(CIC) J&K, Khurshid A Ganai, Ex-Chief Information Commissioner J&K, G R
Sufi, Director Information, Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, heads of various
departments, First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), Public Information Officers
(PIOs) from the districts of Jammu division, prominent RTI activists and other
officers from the J&K State Information Commission.
Chief Secretary in his
inaugural address said that free access to information and participation of
people in policy making is essential for transparent and accountable
governance. Right to information provides an opportunity for attaining informed
consent from the citizens for establishing democratic order. “RTI is
the bedrock of good governance as it promotes transparency and enforces
accountability thereby strengthening corruption free governance” he said.
CIC, Khurshid A Ganai said
the aim of the seminar was to review the implementation of J&K RTI Act 2009
with reference to the achievements registered so far and problems being faced
in its implementation, to sensitize the PIOs and FAAs about their critical role
and responsibility in the implementation of RTI Act, to provide more clarity to
the PIOs and FAAs on important sections of the RTI Act and to get the feedback
on course correction from the PIOs/ FAAs and RTI activists in the seminar.
The seminar included
interactive sessions on vital aspects of J&K RTI Act including sessions
from former CIC, G R Sufi on “Exemption under section 8
and important rulings of Supreme Court, High Court and CIC on RTI Act”, Prof
Sunita Zalpuri on “Responsibilities of PIOs
and FAAs”, Dr
Jahanara Jabeen on “Compliance under section 4
of RTI Act” besides
session on e- governance and digitalization in government presented by Shikha
Jamwal.
The seminar culminated with
certain essential suggestions being made for the consideration of J&K
Government for further strengthening of the framework. These suggestions
included filling of the two posts of the State Information Commissioners,
budgetary support to the SIC for holding national level conferences on RTI and
guest lectures by subject experts on RTI, conducting workshops and seminars at
district level, formulation of new RTI rules to replace 2012 rules and
introduction of short duration certified courses at college and university levels.
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