Right to know: Now just drop into a govt. office to access information

Right to know: Now just drop into a govt. office to access information

News:

1. Maharashtra government has taken a step forward for citizens seeking data from the government under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, by allowing them to study the relevant files at the concerned office on Monday afternoons.

Important Facts:

2. Background:

• RTI applications have been on the decline for the last two years since a citizen finds that the system is obscuring and blocking the information.

3. About the directive:

• The directive is aimed to reduce the number of first and second appeals.
• Under this all government offices ranging from district level to lower level, and municipal corporations, municipal councils, and zilla parishads will make files available for applicants to inspect between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. every Monday.
• In case there is a public holiday on Monday, information can be accessed on the next working day.

4. Significance:

• This step will smoothen thee access to information for the citizens.
• The move is also expected to help curb the rising number of pending appeals with the Maharashtra State Information Commission from applicants against departments denying or withholding information.
• By the end of September 2018, 39,709 appeals and complaints were pending since 2014.