Ramnagar: Coalition partner BJP MLA from Ramnagar, Ranbir Singh Pathania has urged upon the state government for revamping and revisiting Jammu and Kashmir, RTI Act so as to make it sensitive to the exigencies of the hour and make it more workable and practical.
In an interactive session with literature-lovers, intellectuals and educationists at here today he informed the gathering that during the last monsoon session of Legislative Assembly, his Private Members’ Amendment Bill regarding RTI Act, had received accolades and support from legislators and leaders cutting across party lines, and ultimately, state government had also admitted said Bill for discussion. Letters of appreciation had poured in from every nook and corner of the country with almost every section/class of society engaging in a meaningful debate on the issue.
The amendment pivoted around enabling the information seekers to seek online information from PIOs/APIOs while paying fees through net banking, credit/debit cards etc. and for better monitoring and streamlining of the ‘RTI law’. The amendment markedly sought to put brakes on the frivolous information seekers who file repeated, unwanted RTI applications just with a view to harassing and blackmailing officers and thereby putting clogs in the wheels of development and good governance. It sought to give teeth to Information Commission to ‘blacklist’ unscrupulous information-seekers and deter them from misusing the ‘landmark law’.
He further emphasized that the very essence and edifice behind the enacting of ‘historic legislation’ is being eroded with every right-thinking person watching the show helplessly. He recalled that none other than Hon’ble PM has raised the echo against ‘misuse of RTI law’.