Addressing the RTI Act awareness event held at the Collectorate on Friday, Mr. Ilamparithi and Mr. Vijayaram said the government officials, who have to provide accurate information to the petitions being submitted under the RTI Act, should first clearly understand every legal aspect of RTI Act. As the correct information being provided to the RTI applications would get the public confidence on governance and transparency on its functioning, the officials should be cautious in winning the faith of the public through the replies.
“If a reply sought from a particular officer actually falls under the jurisdiction of some other official, the petition should be directed to the officer without delay so that he or she can provide the right reply within the stipulated period of 30 days. If there is any delay, it will spoil the people’s trust on the administration and disappointed applicants will be forced to escalate their petition to the first and second appeals. If a right reply is provided to a RTI petition in the first instance itself, it will win the people’s confidence on the administration,” the Commissioners noted.
The RTI Commissioners chaired the hearings of the second appeal petitions in the Collectorate.