Use RTI info judiciously, urges commissioner

Use RTI info judiciously, urges commissioner
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MERCES, AUG 29
Stating that applicants should not stop at using the Right to Information Act just to obtain information, Commissioner of Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) Afonso Araujo informed that the information obtained should be judiciously used to redress grievances.
Afonso was speaking at an awareness programme on Right to Information Act, 2005, organised by St Cruz Free Legal Aid Cell of V M Salgaocar College of Law in association with Santa Cruz Education and Action Movement (SCREAM) at Santa Cruz School Hall on Sunday.
Commending the St Cruz Free Legal Aid Cell and SCREAM for their role in creating awareness on RTI Act, Afonso said a practical awareness on the Act would go a long way in guiding the people in putting it to proper use.
Enlightening the gathering further on RTI Act, Afonso said it can be summed up in three groups, how to get information, where and in which cases information cannot be given and the consequences if the information is not given.
Elaborating the concept of RTI, Afonso said every government department has a Public Information Officer (PIO), who is duty bound to provide the necessary information even if he has to get any information from other departments.
“Just because some information has to be obtained from other departments, the PIO cannot tell the applicant to approach that department,” he added.
Stating that the maximum time frame for complying under the Act is 30 days, Afonso said that in urgent cases, the information has to be provided within 48 hours.
Afonso also made the people aware of the various situations where information cannot be given. Citing some examples, he said the PIO can refuse to provide info if it involves a person’s private life; if the info concerns the integrity and security of the nation; if it involves correspondence from foreign countries; if the info involves crime where the case is under investigation; if info of a private party that does not concern the public; if it affects copyright of a business, etc.
“If the PIO deliberately or intentionally doesn’t give information or gives wrong info, then he can be penalised under the RTI Act,” Afonso informed, but added “for that to happen, the applicant should make a written complaint to the State Information Commission, which will accordingly penalise the PIO or recommend further action.”
Later, Adv Sanford Facho interacted with the public and answered their queries on the RTI Act. He also informed that under the Act, two types of applications can be made viz general application and application where personal liberty is at stake.
Sanford explained the process that needs to be followed while applying for information under both the circumstances.
Vishwanath of St Cruz Free Legal Aid Cell also spoke on the occasion and explained in brief about their objectives.
He also threw light on the history of the RTI Act and stated that it is currently in force in 70 countries. Long before the Central Act came into force (on October 12, 2005), Goa implemented the same in 1997, he said.
The programme was co-ordinated by Nafisa Barreto and Prof Shabeer Ali of V M Salgaocar College of Law.