On-boarding of PIO, FAA on RTI portal
*22 deptts not
disposing of
applications on time
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 14: Eighty eight Public Authorities in the Union Territory of Ladakh have failed to ensure compliance of the repeated directions regarding on-boarding of Public Information Officer (PIO) and First Appellate Authority (FAA) on the RTI portal. Moreover, RTI applications are not being disposed of within the prescribed time-frame by around 22 departments.
Early last year, the Ladakh Union Territory administration launched the RTI portal to facilitate citizens to file RTI Applications and First Appeals online. The portal was developed and designed by the NIC, Karnataka as a replica of Karnataka RTI portal.
In order to implement the same, details of Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities from departments became mandatory for which the General Administration Department of Ladakh sought the information vide letter dated 30.06.2023.
Since online RTI Portal was a new initiative of the administration of UT of Ladakh and in order to ensure its smooth functioning and operationalizing, even one day training programme was conducted by the NIC, Karnataka team in coordination with NIC, Ladakh and General Administration Department for all the Nodal Officers on 31st July 2023. Accordingly, the General Administration Department, Ladakh generated and shared the username and password of all Nodal Officers account on their respective mail addresses.
However, it has been observed that despite directions issued from time to time, many departments have not complied with the direction for on-boarding of Public Information Officer (PIO) and First Appellate Authority (FAA) on the RTI portal.
The Public Authorities/ departments without PIO and FAA include Food, Civil Supplies Department, District Social Welfare Leh, CMO Kargil, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Kargil, Handicraft and Handloom Office Leh, Geology and Mining Department, Kargil Development Authority, Zanskar Development Authority, Directorate of Urban Local Body, Director Tourism, Director Social Welfare, Horticulture Directorate, Chief Engineer PWD, Secretariat Law Department, Secretariat Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Secretariat Youth Services and Sports, Secretariat Transport, Secretariat Civil Aviation, Secretariat Higher Education, Secretariat Social and Tribal Welfare, Secretariat Planning, Secretariat Mechanical, Secretariat Health and Medical Education, Regional Transport Officer, Secretariat Science and Technology Department, Secretariat Disaster Management and Relief etc.
Further, it has come to the notice of higher authorities that the RTI applications received by the Departments/ Public Authorities from citizens are not being disposed of within the prescribed time frame mainly by 22 departments.
These are Animal Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries Department, Chief Engineer I&FC, Chief Horticulture Officer Kargil, CMO Leh, Office of Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Directorate Horticulture, Directorate Industries & Commerce, Directorate School Education, District Sheep Husbandry Officer Leh, District Social Welfare Kargil, Degree College Zanskar, Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Kargil, Pay and Account Officer Leh, Secretariat Election Department, Secretariat Home Department, Secretariat Revenue, Secretariat Transport Department, School Education Department, Secretariat Health Medical Education Department, Secretariat Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat Social and Tribal Welfare Department and University of Ladakh.
Taking serious note of prevailing situation vis-à-vis implementation of RTI Act, Administrative Secretary, General Administration Department Ladakh, Michael M D’ Souza has directed all the concerned Administrative Secretaries, HoDs, Chief Engineers and Registrar University of Ladakh to take necessary action for on-boarding of PIO and FAA by 29th February.
Further, all the PIOs and FAAs have been directed to dispose of the pending RTI applications immediately in a time bound manner and without any delay. “A compliance report may be submitted by each HoD through their Administrative Secretary on or before 5th March for the appraisal of the Advisor to Lieutenant Governor”, read the directive issued by GAD Administrative Secretary.
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