The central transparency panel on October 25 agreed with the measures proposed by the Government of India for transition of J&K to central RTI Act

The Central Information Commission has approved an action plan worked out by the Government of India for J&K’s transition to central Right to Information Act-2005.
Meeting held days before bifurcation of J&K, the CIC has given its go-ahead to the roadmap proposed by the Department of Personnel and Trainings, Government of India, for J&K’s transition to central Right to Information Act-2005.

These details have come fore through an RTI application filed by Venkatesh Nayak of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

The central transparency panel on October 25 agreed with the measures proposed by the Government of India for transition of J&K to central RTI Act.

Among key measures, the CIC has approved notifying all public authorities under the erstwhile State RTI Act as public authorities under the Central Act and notifying all SPIOs as CPIOs and State first appellate authorities (FAAs) as FAAs under the Central Act.

It has also approved transfer of all pending appeals and complaints pending before J&K State Information Commission to Central Information Commission.

It has also approved that all 2nd appeals pending before the erstwhile J&K Information Commission to be deemed as pending before the CIC under the Central RTI Act.

The CIC has also given its go-ahead for adoption of RTI Rules 2012 by the administration of the UTs of J&K and Ladakh. J&K RTI Rules repealed with the repeal of the J&K RTI Act-2009.
As already reported by Kashmir News Observer, the Government of Union Territory of J&K has constituted a committee to examine whether the UT has come under the jurisdiction of Central Information Commission or there is need of setting up separate body for J&K.

The committee is headed by administrative secretary of General Administration Department and comprises of officials of other departments including Law and Finance.

(Courtesy: Brighter Kashmir)