by: RAMAN SHARMA
Now after the latest revelations that came through a Right to Information application of this scribe and highlighted in media both in Kashmir and Jammu, where it has been proved that the neither the State Information Commission as institution nor GR Sufi as CIC ever asked the state government to make such massive amendments in RTI Rules as the state government has done vide issuing SRO no. 279 dated 30th Aug/2012. In this RTI reply it is also being made crystal clear that even the Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission was not consulted before any amendments, forget the ordinary citizens.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had time and again orchestrated so loud for RTI should not remain quiet now, he must tell the people that who advised him and his cabinet to clip the wings of the State Information Commission and let this institution of transparency also put on pause mode ( as is being done in case of State Accountability Commission).
People of this State deserve to be informed that what motivated the government to take such a harsh step so hurriedly. The state bureaucracy tried it's level best to hush up the matter by blaming the Commission and it's chief for the recent amendments in the RTI Rules, that has virtually turned the commission like a gigantic building without any pillars that may fall anytime without any caution. The Intelligentsia, legal experts and the Civil society all are worried and eyeing and keeping their ears towards Chief Minister's office to listen his response that what he has to offer to the people for this anti-transparency attempt. After all he has to take the last call and his silence can be assumed as his consent to deliberately weaken the institutions of Transparency and Accountability in the state because they can pose a threat to the government by bringing the misdeeds of politicians and corrupt Babus. It is humble submission to the Young Chief Minister who would be completing 43 years on March Next year to show wisdom and reconsider his government's decision of amending RTI rules because the SRO no 279 issued by the GAD do not relate with the parent law i.e J & K Right to Information Act, 2009. There are number of discrepancies in the amended rules as they are silent on number of issues and a confusing situation has arisen due to these ambiguities. Chairperson of the National Commission on Minorities and former CIC Wajahat Habibullah termed the amendments as a setback to the promotion of transparency in Jammu and Kashmir. Habibullah has even written to the Chief Minister saying, "The absence of any public consultation .. and the secretive manner in which the decision to repeal the J&K RTI Rules 2010 was made is, in my opinion, a blemish on your government's track record of encouraging openness in its working". It is expected that the Chief Minister will pay attention to the voice of Media, Society and experts and will review the decision. About Author: Raman Sharma is an RTI Activist and can be reached [a] jkrtiact@gmail.com . http://www.stateobserver.com/newsdet.aspx?q=29148
Now after the latest revelations that came through a Right to Information application of this scribe and highlighted in media both in Kashmir and Jammu, where it has been proved that the neither the State Information Commission as institution nor GR Sufi as CIC ever asked the state government to make such massive amendments in RTI Rules as the state government has done vide issuing SRO no. 279 dated 30th Aug/2012. In this RTI reply it is also being made crystal clear that even the Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission was not consulted before any amendments, forget the ordinary citizens.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who had time and again orchestrated so loud for RTI should not remain quiet now, he must tell the people that who advised him and his cabinet to clip the wings of the State Information Commission and let this institution of transparency also put on pause mode ( as is being done in case of State Accountability Commission).
People of this State deserve to be informed that what motivated the government to take such a harsh step so hurriedly. The state bureaucracy tried it's level best to hush up the matter by blaming the Commission and it's chief for the recent amendments in the RTI Rules, that has virtually turned the commission like a gigantic building without any pillars that may fall anytime without any caution. The Intelligentsia, legal experts and the Civil society all are worried and eyeing and keeping their ears towards Chief Minister's office to listen his response that what he has to offer to the people for this anti-transparency attempt. After all he has to take the last call and his silence can be assumed as his consent to deliberately weaken the institutions of Transparency and Accountability in the state because they can pose a threat to the government by bringing the misdeeds of politicians and corrupt Babus. It is humble submission to the Young Chief Minister who would be completing 43 years on March Next year to show wisdom and reconsider his government's decision of amending RTI rules because the SRO no 279 issued by the GAD do not relate with the parent law i.e J & K Right to Information Act, 2009. There are number of discrepancies in the amended rules as they are silent on number of issues and a confusing situation has arisen due to these ambiguities. Chairperson of the National Commission on Minorities and former CIC Wajahat Habibullah termed the amendments as a setback to the promotion of transparency in Jammu and Kashmir. Habibullah has even written to the Chief Minister saying, "The absence of any public consultation .. and the secretive manner in which the decision to repeal the J&K RTI Rules 2010 was made is, in my opinion, a blemish on your government's track record of encouraging openness in its working". It is expected that the Chief Minister will pay attention to the voice of Media, Society and experts and will review the decision. About Author: Raman Sharma is an RTI Activist and can be reached [a] jkrtiact@gmail.com . http://www.stateobserver.com/newsdet.aspx?q=29148
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