Will make RTI more effective, says new SCIC

Making the RTI more effective and ensuring that information is readily available will be the topmost priority, said Sumit Mullick, the newly appointed State Chief Information Commissioner. Mullick took his oath of office on Thrusday. 

He also said that levying of penalty as an effective deterrent will be considered so that officers do not delay the process of providing information. RTI activists and complainants have often complained that penalty is not levied despite RTI Act having penal provisions. 

On the present consternation on the issue of the rank of a chief information commissioner, Mullick said that the post was equivalent to that of a Supreme Court judge as per the Act. "It is not a Constitutional post, but a statutory one. But the Act does state that the chief's post is like that of a Supreme Court judge. Will have to look more into the debate to comment on it," he said. 

Mullick also said that poor record management in public authorities, which the annual report of the commission pointed out, was a cause of concern. "Record keeping is a problem and so is disposal of files. There is lot of scope for improvement through effective use of technology," he said. 

Suo motu disclosure of information — which is supposed to reduce filing of application — is not complied with according to the new chief largely due to non-application of mind or due to malafide intentions of officers or information not being located. 

On the pending second appeals, which is often cited as a way to kill the RTI Act, Mullick said that he will look at ways to reduce the appeals that are nearing 6,000 at his bench.

THE APPOINTEMENT

Sumit Mullick, retired as the chief secretary of Maharashtra. He took the oath for the post that has been lying vacant for nearly a year after his predecessor, Ratnakar Gaikwad retired. During this period, a public interest litigation was filed besides demand from citizens to fill up the post soon