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