SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement commemorated International Access to Information Day on Saturday, in a programme held in association with Peace School Nagam Chadoora. The event, celebrated globally, highlighted the significance of access to information in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
Addressing the students and faculty, Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement, provided a historical overview of India’s access to information law, referencing the landmark Supreme Court judgement in the Raj Narayan vs Union of India case. He elaborated on the key provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005, encouraging students and teachers to utilise this powerful tool to hold government officials accountable and enhance their understanding of participatory democracy.
This year’s theme, “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector,” underscored the importance of integrating information access into public governance. Dr Bhat urged public authorities, particularly Public Information Officers (PIOs), to expedite responses to RTI applications. He stressed that Section 7 of the RTI Act mandates PIOs to provide information as quickly as possible, without waiting the maximum 30-day period unless absolutely necessary.
“It has become common practice for PIOs to delay providing information, even when it is readily available,” Dr Bhat remarked, calling for immediate adherence to the law to promote better governance.
The programme also featured other prominent speakers, including Dr Rouf Mohiuddin, Director of Koshish, Athar Pravaiz Mir, Chairman of Peace School Nagam, Administrator Ajaz Jalal, Budgam RTI Movement Coordinator Mushtaq Ahmed, Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Coordinator of Pratham, and social activist Amir Khan. Each speaker emphasised the critical role of access to information in fostering a transparent and accountable government.
The event concluded with a collective call for citizens, particularly the youth, to actively engage with the RTI process, empowering them to contribute to a more informed and participatory democracy.