Jammu : All Jammu and Kashmir Border Area Development Conference (JKBADC), a registered organization working for the welfare of border areas of J & K has alleged that Right to Information Act has been made redundant in Poonch as officers there in the border district do not bother to follow the provisions and time line as mandated under the law and remain non serious towards the RTI applications of the innocent citizens.
Dr Shazad Ahmed Malik, Chairman of the JKBADC and former Vice Chancellor has requested the Deputy Commissioner Poonch to look into this matter and hold sensitization and awareness programs about Right to Information Act for the Public Information Officers(PIOs) and the citizens.
The BADC Chairman stated that several complaints have been made by the villagers that the officers of different departments especially the Block Development Officers in district Poonch pay least importance to this important legislation (RTI Act) and remain inattentive towards the RTI applications by the citizens. He also said if implemented properly, the RTI Act can be useful in curtailment of Corruption in the government departments and keep a check on the quality of works carried out of public funds.
The former VC informed that under the RTI Act, a Public Information Officer is under legal obligation to provide information to the applicant as expeditiously as possible but not later than 30 days but in district Poonch this important section of the RTI law is flouted with impunity. He said soon BADC would also hold awareness and sensation programs on RTI Act and other allied laws to educate people of these border areas.
