Central Information Commission
Mr.Manoj Pai vs All India Radio, Goa (M/O I&B) on 3 February, 2009
Central Information Commission
CIC/AD/C/09/00049
Dated February 3, 2009
Name of the Appellant : Mr.Manoj Pai
Name of the Public Authority : i)All India Radio, Goa
ii)The Secrtary, M/o I&B
Background
1. The Appellant filed an RTI request dt.8.2.08 with the CPIO, AIR, Panaji. He stated that he has attached two orders from DoP&T related to implementation of Section 4 of the RTI Act
i) Order No.1/18/2007-IR dt.27.9.07 regarding maintenance and suo- motu declaration of information
ii) Order No.10/23/2007-IR dt.21.9.07 regarding confidential reports and its disclosure in public interest.
The Appellant wanted to know the action taken in this regard. The CPIO replied on 12.2.08 stating that implementation of Section 4 of the RTI Act has already been taken up and that information would be available on the website shortly. Not satisfied with the reply, the Appellant filed a complaint dt.1.11.08 before CIC.
2. The Bench of Mrs. Annapurna Dixit, Information Commissioner, scheduled the hearing on February 3, 2009.
3. Mr. B.D. Mazumdar, Station Director and CPIO and Mr. Kuber P. Bidikar, Admn. Officer represented the Public Authority.
4. The Appellant was present during the hearing.
Decision
5. After hearing the submissions of both parties, the Commission directs the Appellant to provide comments on the information already uploaded on the website, pointing out the missing information as also information that is not relevant, to the Respondents within 10 days of the receipt of this Order and the Respondents to complete compliance with Section 4(1)(a) and 4(1) (b) within one month of the receipt of comments from the Appellant. This includes publishing of manuals as prescribed under Section 4(1) (b) and suo motu disclosure of information to the public at regular intervals of time through various means.
6. The Commission also directs the CPIO to show cause as to why the Public Authority has not complied with the provisions of Section 4 of the RTI Act . The information to reach the Commission within 20 days of receipt of this Order.
7. It has come to the notice of the Commission from the submission of the Appellant that around 34 Door Darshan Kendras, 20 CBS Units and 14 AIR stations across the country have so far not taken any steps to comply with the Section 4 of the RTI Act. If true, this dismissive attitude on the part of these Stations/Units is unacceptable since the Commission is of the opinion that an informed citizenry and transparency of information are vital to the functioning of Democracy . The Commission, accordingly, directs the Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to send the necessary directives to all DDKs, AIR Stations and CBS Units to immediately takes steps to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 4 of the RTI Act within one month of receipt of his directive.
8. The appeal is disposed off.
(Annapurna Dixit) Information Commissioner Authenticated true copy:
(K.G.Nair) Designated Officer Cc:
1. Mr.Manoj Pai T-15, Sunrise Park Tenements PO Bodakdev Ahmedabad 380 054
2. The CPIO & The Station Director All India Radio Altinho Panaji 403 001 GOA
3. The Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi
4. Officer in charge, NIC
5. Press E Group, CIC