Frequent use of RTI Act by Government employees

The root cause of frequent use of RTI Act by Government servants to
resolve their grievances is two-fold. Firstly, there are serious
aberrations in the personnel policy and existing grievance redressal
mechanism is inadequate to satisfy the aggrieved employees.Secondly,
Government employees are aware of their rights under RTI Act and are
using this enactment to resolve their grievances.

Solution lies in asking public authorities to have required
transparency in their public records relating to
postings/promotions/annual confidential reports/vigilance
enquiries/punishments/etc. etc. Cases decided by CIC /SICs in favour
of Government employees may serve as a "bench-mark", to prescribe
what public records should be transparent and accessible to the
employees.


Section 4(2) of the RTI Act requires all public authorities to suo-
moto disclose information, to reduce the citizen's resort to RTI
Act. There should be clarity regarding transparency of public
records regarding personnel management, as a guideline to CPIO/SPIO/
First Appellate Authority/Public Authorities, so that CIC/SICs are
not burdened with disputes regarding transparency of such records.
DOPT may like to organise research on this subject, treating the
decided cases as "case laws", to lay down workable guideline to the
public authorities. This may reduce the undue burden on CIC/SICs,
from dissatisfied public servants.

Government and the public authorities have ignored their statutory
responsibility of educating the citizens regarding RTI Act.
Therefore citizens (other then Government employees) have not made
extensive use of RTI Act to resolve their problems in interface
with Government to the desired extent. The implementation of RTI Act
is at the initial stage. After the knowledge of RTI Act spreads,
beneficiaries of public expenditure in Public
Health/Education/Irrigation/Law and order/ civil
works/Agriculture/etc. would be able to question the efficacy,
efficiency and corrupt practises. Perhaps the Governments are going
very slow with "educational programs," to avoid public criticism of
deficiency in public administration systems, by the citizens.