nHow do you rate the performance of Bihar in implementing the Right to Information (RTI) Act?

RTI was enacted to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority. The Bihar government has done a commendable job by setting up the “Jaankari” helpline as it has made things very simple for those who want to avail the benefits of the RTI. It is a unique initiative under which ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) has been innovatively and effectively used to making RTI Act more broad based and accessible to the common man by bridging the literacy and digital divide. System has been designed in an “information-at-your-doorstep” format whereby the hassles of physical movement to avail a service have been removed. Because of this initiative of the state government, the implementation of the RTI Act has been very effective and has received good response from the people of Bihar. This would be clear if you see the increasing in the number of applications in the last four years:

nHas the Jaankari helpline been any help to the common people?

Jaankari call centre has been a great success. Information is now just a phone call away (Tel. No. 155311). There are no hassles of going to the Public Information Officer (PIO) office for filling an RTI application. The executives of Jaankari also fill up the application which helps the citizens in case of linguistic problems.

There has been an increase in the response from the people of Bihar in the use of this facility. Since January 2007 to November 2010, the total applications filed with the PIO through Jaankari call centre is 17,404, first appeal – 9,410, second appeal – 5,460, queries answered – 34,158, other calls attended 2,028, total calls attended 68,460.

nHave you come across cases which suggest that some people are misusing the RTI Act?

It is said that some people misuse the RTI Act, but as far as my experience goes, I do not think that such allegations have any substance. It is due to poor appreciation of the provisions of the RTI Act that such allegations are made. In any case, there has been no serious instance of misuse of the RTI Act in the state.

nWhat steps should be taken to make government officials more sensitive towards the implementation of the RTI?

The government has appointed PIOs right up to the panchayat level. Training of PIOs and steps to create awareness among government employees will go a long way in sensitising them as well as the people. The government has taken several steps in this direction and they have yielded desired result.

nGiven that several cases are pending with the Bihar State Information Commission (BSIC), do you think that more information commissioners should be appointed to clear the backlog?

It is true there has been an increase in the number of second appeals before the commission. In 2007-08, the total number of second appeal was 5,730. In 2009-10, it has increased to 16,598. But it is also true that there has been a substantial increase in the number of cases being disposed of by the commission. The BSIC has disposed of more than 8,000 cases in 2009-10 and the number stood at more than 13,000 in the first 11 months of 2010-11. There has been substantial increase in the disposal of cases in the current year as compared to the previous year.

There are talks that the BSIC is planning to launch an interactive website which would help people living in remote areas of the State. Please give details about the progress made on this front.

Launching of the interactive website is in an advanced stage and we hope that it would be launched in two months time.

nWhat happened to BSIC’s plan to introduce video conferencing facility for case hearing?

Video conferencing facility is almost ready for launch and preparations are on to hear the cases through this facility. We hope that sometime in the month of June the commission will be able to hear the cases through this facility.

nHas Bihar been able to implement RTI in its true spirit?

It is for the people of Bihar to judge this.

nAbout A K Choudhary…

Having completed his Masters in law from the Allahabad University in the year 1970, Choudhary was appointed a lecturer in the same department in July 1970. In 1971, he joined as lecturer in the faculty of law at the Benaras Hindu University. On July 15, 1972, he was selected for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

In his long career in the IAS, Choudhary served in various capacities as district magistrate, chief secretary to the state government and joint secretary in the government of India. He played a pivotal role in drafting of legislations and formulation of schemes which benefited the lives of millions of people. One among them was the legislation titled “Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Right and Full Participation) Act, 1995” which he drafted in the capacity of joint secretary in the ministry of empowerment for social justice.

nWhat would you have been had you not joined the IAS?

I was lecturer in the faculty of law at Benaras Hindu University and would have continued in the teaching profession had I not qualified for the civil services.