By Sheikh Qayoom

Srinagar, Jul 29 (IANS): A prominent RTI activist on Wednesday accused district authorities in J&K's Badgam district of non-disclosure of COVID related expenditure as mandated by the RTI act.

Raja Muzafar Bhat, a prominent local RTI activist, wrote to DM Badgam on Wednesday, "Under section 4 (1) (b) of RTI act 2005 all public authorities are supposed to make voluntary disclosure of various types of public information especially related to purchases made by the government.

"As we are going through COVID-19 pandemic, the people raise questions about the transparency in the expenditure on account of countering the pandemic.

"It is imperative upon all public authorities to make voluntary disclosure of COVID-19 expenses and make the same available under public domain so that people's faith is restored and becomes part of the great work government is doing to counter the deadly viral disease.

"I tried to go through your website. I found information available on main page, but no information was avail about COVID-19 neither about expenditure nor about other things.

"On the other hand, all central government department websites and all district department websites across India carry these details prominently on their websites."