Maharashtra leads in RTI use: Joshi

Nashik, Aug 2: Maharashtra Chief Information Commissioner Suresh Joshi has said the state leads in use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

''Maharashtra leads in use of the RTI Act, as in 2007, 3,16,000 RTI applications were received from the state, in comparison to 31,000 applications received from Andhra Pradesh and 30,000-40,000 applications received from other states,'' Mr Joshi said at a press conference here yesterday.

He was here to conduct a three-day camp for hearing of RTI appeals. As many as 150 appeals were heard in the camp and satisfactory solutions were found for 35-40 of them.

On the occasion, he stressed for need of more responsible work from the First Appellate Officers so that people would be satisfied at that level itself. The officers should give verdict in 30 days and in 45 days in exceptional situation. Their work will be monitored keenly in the next two months and if any lapses are noticed, they will have to face departmental inquiry, Mr Joshi said.

He praised the 'Gramasthadin' scheme in Nashik district. It is a scheme complementary to the RTI. Here the principle of 'voluntary disclosure' is followed, in which the system itself discloses information, he said adding that 'implementation' is the key word for smooth conduct of the work regarding the RTI.

UNI