Outgoing CIC pats himself on the back

Wanting to showcase his achievements in the face of criticism from activists across the city, outgoing state chief information commissioner Dr Suresh Joshi said on Monday that the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005, has been better than anywhere else in the world.

Wanting to showcase his achievements in the face of criticism from activists across the city, outgoing state chief information commissioner Dr Suresh Joshi said on Monday that the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005, has been better than anywhere else in the world.

HT Image

Dr Joshi said the whole of America had received 6 lakh queries last year under the RTI’s American counterpart, while Maharashtra alone had received 4.4 lakh queries.

“At least 347 public information officers in Maharashtra last year, were fined Rs 26 lakh for ignoring and delaying RTI queries,” Dr Joshi said. Patting himself on the back, Dr Joshi also said the disposal rate or RTI queries received by his office was as high as 102 per cent.

Activist GR Vora said, “The number of queries only reflects the lack of transparency. Instead, why doesn’t he disclose the number of satisfied applicants?”