[HumJanenge] Memoradum to Chief Secretary, Orissa demanding amendment of Orissa RTI Rules

Orissa Soochana Adhikar Abhijan's Memorandum to Chief Secretary, Orissa demanding amendment to illegitimate and anti-people Orissa RTI Rules, 2005

 

Bhubaneswar:7.6.2011- It may be recalled that under the continuing pressure of campaign by the civil society groups coupled with demands raised by a section of MLAs in the Orissa Legislative Assembly, the Government of Orissa constituted last year a Committee to recommend amendment to Orissa RTI Rules 2005 and also issued open invitation to the members of public to suggest their views on the same online to the website opened for the purpose www.rtiorissa.gov.in. Accordingly, numerous members of public submitted their views to the Dept of Information and Public Relations, Govt of Orissa, the state nodal agency for RTI.

 

It may be further recalled that Orissa Soochana Adhikar Abhijan an umbrella platform of civil society groups carrying forward the campaign for effective implementation of RTI Act in the state has since inception been demanding withdrawal of Orissa RTI Rules 2005 terming it as absurd, illegitimate and anti-people. Therefore the OSAA in response to the above mentioned invitation did also submit their well considered views on the subject both on line and by post. But it was regretfully observed that after receiving the views and opinions from the members of public including OSAA, the Government without any rhyme or reason went into a state of hibernation for reasons known best to them.

 

Being perturbed by the prolonged inaction of the Government, the Abhijan had in Sept. 2010 last, met and submitted a memorandum  to Mr.Tarun Kanti Mishra  the then Chief Secretary of Orissa  to do the needful. Incidentally, after a brief interregnum, Mr.Mishra on his retirement was appointed Chief Orissa Information Commissioner. As per Section 25(5) of RTI Act, Mr.Mishra in his new capacity had and still has all the powers to press the State Government for doing the needful for amending the provisions of Orissa RTI Rules 2005 so as to bring them into conformity to the letter and spirit of the parent Act. But till date, no tangible step has been taken by him in that direction.     

 

Under the circumstances, OSAA decided to meet and apprise Mr. Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Chief Secretary, Orissa of the long pending issue of amendment to Orissa RTI Rules, 2005, over which the Government of Orissa seems to be intentionally killing time. Accordingly a team of OSAA met Mr. Patnaik and submitted to him a Memorandum on the said subject on 7^th June 2011 in Secretariat. After hearing the statement of the team on the proposed amendment to Orissa RTI Rules 2005, Mr.Patnaik  assured  them to take positive steps  in this regard . The 4 member team of OSAA comprised Mr. Pradip Pradhan,  Mrs. Usharani Behera, Mr. Tapan Mohapatra and Mr. Raj Kishor Singh.

 

Pradip Pradhan

M-99378-43482

Date- 7.6.2011