Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 05:
The Right to Information Act, 2005 will come into force from October 12 in Manipur, disclosed a reliable source.
Accordingly State Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh has issued instructions to all the Heads of Departments in the State to make necessary arrangements to appoint one Public Information Officer (PIO) each, the source informed.
As per the Gazette Notification issued by the Government of India on June 15 this year, the Act is to be implemented within 120 days of publication of the notification in all the States with exception to Jammu and Kashmir.
The stipulated date expires on October 13.Along with the implementation of the Act, the State Government would be setting up a State Information Commission (SIC) very soon, the source said, adding that the State Cabinet is likely to discuss appointment of Commission members after the Chief Minister returns from Chandigarh.
Although the provision of the Act clearly states that the maximum numbers of members in SIC should not be more than 10, in Manipur only three members might of appointed in view of the physical condition of the State, according to the source.
It may be noted here the RTI Act has already been implemented in other Indian States.
According to the provisions of the Act, any citizen could get access to information required by them from the concerned Government Department by forwarding an application through the PIO and paying the necessary fee.
If the PIO failed to provide the information being sought in time or gave misleading/wrong information, a complaint could be lodged to SIC which is empowered to take up action against the concerned PIO or other officials if they were found guilty.