Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Aug 6: "When a petitioner applies demanding information in any government office, it should not be considered as a burden; instead it becomes the duty of the officer concerned to provide information to the applicant. Right to Information Act has brought around a sea-change in the nation, as earlier power was limited to the privileged sector, and common man had to beg for information. RTI Act is therefore a revolution," said Dr H N Krishna, chief information commissioner of Karnataka Information Commission.
 
He was addressing the officers at a workshop on ‘Right to Information Act 2005’ held at Netravati hall of zilla panchayat here on Friday August 5.

Elaborating his talk, Dr H N Krishna said that as every citizen who pays tax to fill the government’s treasury has the right to know the progress of the work undertaken by the different offices. No officers can act rudely or be reluctant to provide information. He called upon the officials to keep all files neatly irrespective of how old they may be.
 
He also instructed the officials about the procedure of providing information and said that it should be detailed except in state intelligence and district intelligence department and 16 institutions at the centre. One need not explain the reason for asking information as per the section 6 (2) of RTI Act, he said.
 
Under per section 5 (1) B of RTI Act even an illiterate has the opportunity of availing information. Under section 6(B) of RTI Act a petitioner can submit his application anywhere in the nation and it becomes the duty of authority concerned to pass it on to the relevant department within five days and the same should be intimated to the applicant, he said.
 
Rs 10 is fixed for one application, said the information commissioner, adding that a BPL card holder will not get the information free of cost, unless the person can produce an income certificate attested by the tahashildar.
 
DK district zilla panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash assured that all ZP officials would respond responsibly and impliment the guidelines outlined by the information commisioner on RTI.