Karnataka’s Chief Information Commissioner, Ashit Mohan Prasad, has issued a stern directive to officials: promptly clear the staggering 40,000 Right to Information (RTI) applications currently pending across the state, including 1,623 specifically in Dharwad district.
During a crucial meeting held in Dharwad for zilla panchayat officials and staff, Commissioner Prasad underscored the critical importance of adhering to the 2005 Right to Information Act. He warned that failure to provide timely and accurate information would lead to fines, noting that over the past decade, officials have collectively paid ₹10 crore in penalties to the State Information Commission for non-compliance.
He stressed that all responses to RTI applications must be delivered within specified deadlines, reiterating that delays would incur penalties.
Prasad clarified that RTI applications must be resolved within 30 days. He added that while file notes can be shared, the identity of the drafting official must remain confidential. Furthermore, information directly available from government websites does not require additional attestation. For queries concerning government schemes and projects, officials can simply provide data downloaded from the relevant departmental websites.
The Commissioner also specified that details regarding a government employee’s role and benefits are public record and can be disclosed, including their name and designation. However, information related to ongoing investigations, or inquiries where the final report is not yet submitted or attested by the investigating officer, should be withheld.
Highlighting the long-standing nature of the Right to Information Act, which came into effect in 2005 but encompasses data from the preceding two decades, the Chief Information Commissioner urged all personnel to grasp its fundamental principles. He noted that over 200 High Court orders and more than 100 Supreme Court orders have since reinforced and broadened the Act’s scope and implementation.
He further detailed the specific responsibilities of both the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat in upholding these regulations.
Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu G.R.J. confirmed that information officers, along with first and second appellate officers, receive mandatory training every six months. She remarked that Dharwad’s information officers have performed commendably compared to other districts and assured that all remaining applications would be processed within set timelines.
Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar, Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhuvanesh Patil, and Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya also addressed the gathering, discussing diverse aspects of RTI implementation. The event saw attendance from several other high-ranking departmental officials.