RTI Activist Urges Visiting Panel to Amend Central Act, Introduce Timeframe for Second Appeals
Introduce Statutory Deadlines in RTI Act 2005 to Restore Public Trust, Says Singh
27/06/2025
Jammu ,June 27 (KIP)- Noted RTI activist S. Balvinder Singh has formally appealed to the Hon’ble Anurag-led Parliamentary Panel, scheduled to visit the Union Territory from July 28, urging a critical review of the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in Jammu & Kashmir.
According to a recent media report, the Panel—among other engagements—is also expected to assess the functioning of the RTI framework during its visit. In this context, Mr. Singh has drawn attention to the stark contrast between the erstwhile J&K RTI Act, 2009 and the Central RTI Act, 2005, emphasizing that the former was widely acknowledged as more robust and citizen-friendly, particularly due to its clearly defined timelines and stronger enforcement provisions.
Mr. Singh emphasized that Section 16(4) of the J&K RTI Act, 2009 mandated a fixed 90-day timeframe for the disposal of second appeals by the State Information Commission. This statutory certainty, he noted, empowered citizens by ensuring predictability and timely access to information.
However, following the reorganization and the replacement of the J&K RTI Act with the Central RTI Act, citizens in the Union Territory have faced significant delays in the disposal of second appeals—often exceeding one year and three months. Mr. Singh expressed concern that such delays undermine the very objective of the RTI framework, which is to facilitate prompt and meaningful transparency.
He further pointed out that while the Central Act provides a 45-day timeline for first appeals, it lacks any statutory limit for the disposal of second appeals. This gap, he argued, weakens the accountability mechanism and discourages citizens from pursuing their right to information.
Importantly, Mr. Singh cited the observations of several Hon’ble High Courts—including those of Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and J&K—which have previously underscored the need for a structured and time-bound roadmap for the disposal of second appeals.
In light of these concerns, Mr. Singh has earnestly urged the visiting Panel to take cognizance of this systemic deficiency and consider recommending the reintroduction of fixed timelines for second appeals, akin to the provisions of the J&K RTI Act, 2009. Such a measure, he believes, would help restore public confidence and uphold the foundational spirit of transparency and accountability in governancrds !