Punjab Government on Monday instructed all its departments to implement Right to Information (RTI) Act in its true spirits by providing the information in time. The strict instructions to adhere to timeline as specified in RTI Act-2005 came after taking cognizance of reports regarding delay from different social organisations.
“Certain NGOs have brought this issue into the notice of the State Government that some public authorities or State information officers have been blatantly violating the provisions of the RTI Act-2005,” said an official spokesperson.
He said that these NGOs have alleged that public authorities or state information officers of some department have willfully ignoring to implement the sub-sections 2(j), 3, 4(4), 5(1), 6(3), 18(1), 19(5), 20(1), and 20(2) of the RTI, Act-2005.
It has been alleged that in the absence of these provisions, public authorities or state information officers withhold the information or delay the information tacitly.
Spokesperson said that the State Government has taken serious note of the lackadaisical approach of public authorities or State information officers in implementing the sub-section of the RTI Act-2005. In written instruction to all the departmental heads, it has been directed to personally ensure the implementation of the RTI Act in true spirits.
Terming the delay in proving information as a “serious blot on the working of the State Government”, department has now been directed to maintain the record of all the applications and fee received from the applicants on prescribed performa.