After RTI…..?

Transparency is okay, but what about accountability!

                                  Greater Kashmir, 13-Feb-2012

BY: RAMAN SHARMA

With each passing day, the most talked and obviously powerful civil right, i.e. Right to Information Act is gaining momentum in Jammu and Kashmir State and helping the citizens to get the information from the government and administration. In this process of obtaining information many RTI users have been able to unearth major scams in the state. Now, the officers, the Public Information Officers are providing information to the general public and there is a tangible change one can see where officers respecting the provisions of the transparency law. This fact is even authenticated by many RTI activists that now by and large their RTI pleas are being responded by the officers. But on the other side, the  activists feel helpless when after hectic exercise and paying hefty RTI fees, the information they collect remain just piece of papers and  the purpose for what the information is sought remains absent. RTI is just a preliminary means to highlight the corruption related issues, otherwise  the scope of RTI (the PIO, 1st appellate authority or the state information commission) is limited.

This is the reason that now the citizenry and  activists demanding accountability in the system. ‘‘Openness is Okay but what about accountability? The information that citizens receive under   RTI after hectic efforts remain useless in absence of any strong institutions that can make the corrupt officers and institutions accountable and initiate proceedings against them. For follow up, we have no strong institutions, we urge the government to strengthen its other organizations also for ensuing accountability ’’ demands  Dr. RR Khajuria a known social activists and founder chairman of Vichar Kranti Manch International.  The real journey starts after receiving the information and the data from the public authorities, most of the citizens do not know what to do after getting the information. However in personal RTI pleas the appellants after getting the requisite information approach the court of law for getting the justice but in case of mass corruption, huge land scams, irregularities and deviation of stipulated rules by the officers and the departments, the information seekers remain helpless.  As of now, the citizens  remain confused as there is no such institution in the state where they can go with the information in their hands for seeking action against the defaulters and remedial measures. There are strong voices demanding straight  action from the Accountability Commission.  Shafiq Mir, Sarpanch of remote village Poshana, Bufflaiz block in Poonch and an  RTI activists says “I think after RTI exposures, it is the duty of the accountability commission to take the cognizance of at least serious cases  and obviously the accountability commission has a bigger role to play, the  Commission  must prove  its credibility by nailing the big fishes, otherwise  this all seems an eye wash ”.  In few cases it has also been noticed that many applicants even after getting the information under the RTI act eyes the State Information Commission for remedy but being ignorant of the fact that the SIC cannot move beyond a point, it has a limited jurisdiction.

Therefore despite getting the valuable information with them the citizens feel powerless and helpless. Though textually, the state government has appointed the members of the state accountability commission where an ordinary citizen can file a complaint related to corruption cases against the politicians. But we all know that this institution of SAC is almost defunct since last more than 3 years. And who knows the fate of those cases against the bureaucrats that are registered with the state vigilance organization; the corruption cases against the bureaucrats are never given sanction by the state general administration department. Therefore it is expected that the state government would soon be taking necessary measures in this regard so that both openness and accountability go together.

(Raman Sharma, is an RTI activist and can be reached at jkrtiact@gmail.com)