Maharashtra State Information Commission warns Public Authorities
Maharashtra's Chief SIC Dr Suresh Joshi issued a stern ultimatum to officials playing the roles of Public Information Officers (PIOs) and First Appellate Authorities (FAAs). The warning extends to all public officials who play a role in providing information in response to an RTI application. This is in response to information-seekers and RTI activists who have been crying themselves hoarse for stringent implementation of RTI Act 2005. After six rounds of discussions spread over 10 days with all the State's Secretaries, Dr Joshi wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Johny Joseph clearly stating that all the PIOs and FAAs must act strictly in accordance with the RTI Act, or else! This letter, which has been widely circulated by General Administration Department (GAD) among all state government departments, may be roughly divided into three components: a) Lucidly explaining the main points and the intention of the RTI Act b) ...