People seeking information should follow RTI rules properly: State CIC

SCIC Mohammed Shakeel Akhter clarifies RTI rules for PIOs and APIOs in Salem consultation meeting.

State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) Mohammed Shakeel Akhter held a consultation meeting with the public information officers (PIOs) and appellate public information officers (APIOs) in Salem on Thursday.

The SCIC clarified the doubts raised by the PIOs and APIOs in the presence of District Collector R. Brindha Devi, City Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Abhinapu and District Superintendent of Police Gautam Goyal.

Mr. Akhter said the Right to Information (RTI) ensured that the government and its aided institutions, departments, and offices ran in a transparent manner and provide the needed information to the citizens. The State Information Commission was monitoring and taking steps to prevent the usage of the RTI Act for unlawful activities. Likewise, the information-seeking citizens and also the PIOs should follow the RTI rules properly and the Commission was also ensuring this.

The information sought under the RTI should be given within 30 days and if the information was not provided within that period, it would be considered a rejection of information. If the information sought by the petitioner was connected with life and liberty, the information should be given within 48 hours, Mr. Akhter added.

In the meeting, the SCIC explained the rules to be followed, including where to get information regarding the petitions, transferring the petitions, and other sections of the RTI Act. Similarly, the details of the Commission inquiry, the first appeal, and the second appeal before the Commission, as well as information that cannot be shared, were also explained to PIOs and APIOs.