Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 24: G R Sofi, Chief Information Commissioner J&K today said that usage of RTI should not only be confined to a particular section of the society and it is for the people of this State to decide whether to make this act a success or not.
He was addressing the participants of 3-week long winter school refresher course by Academic Staff College of Kashmir University, here today. Faculty members from various colleges and universities of the Valley are taking part in the refresher course.
Sofi said a vigilant citizenry can build an opinion in the society aimed at strengthening the act and if there are any deficiencies in the act those can be overcome by making certain amendments.
Talking about the role of RTI in making citizen the most powerful entity in a democratic setup, Sofi said “RTI has made the public authority accountable and transparent before the citizens.
Giving the academicians an overview of the act, Sufi said RTI is an endeavor to promote transparency and contain corruption. “Maintaining that role of the Commission- which he said is a quasi -judicial statuary authority is not only to strengthen the act but also to make sure that RTI shouldn’t be used to jeopardize the normal framework or functioning of the public offices,” Sofi said.
During the interaction GR Sofi elaborated upon various sections of the act wherein he mentioned various prohibitions, nature of information which can be sought under the act, time duration and various other legal bindings.
Prof NA Gilkar Controller Examinations CUK, Director Academic Staff College KU Prof Farooq Fayaz, Prof H Mustafa, Principal Degree College Anantnag and Dr M Shafi, Coordinator of the winter school course were also present on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel