COURTEOUS BEHAVIOR WITH THE PERSONS SEEKING INFORMATION UNDER THE RTI ACT, 2005 AND MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS IN CONSONANCE WITH SECTION 4

Many organisations are conducting training programmes on the Right to Information Act. The public authorities should ensure that their public information officers and other concerned officers are exposed to such training programmes. As such the public authorities may also organise training programs at their own level. While imparting such training, the officers should be sensitized about the need of courthouse behavior with the information seekers. The Central information commission has brought to the notice of the DoP&T that officers of the some of the public authorities do not behave properly with the persons who seek information under the RTI Act, 2005 . It is further directed to say that the responsibility of a public authority and it's public information officers is not confined to furnish information but also to provide necessary help to the information seekers, wherever necessary. While providing information or rendering help to a person, it is important to be courteous to the information seeker, and to respect his dignity. The Commission has also expressed concern over the fact that many public authorities have not published relevant information under section 4 of the Act. All the public authorities should ensure that they make suo motu disclosure as provided in the Act without any further delay and it is a statutory requirement , which should not be compromised with. Poor maintenance of records is vital for the success of the Right to Information Act however many public authorities are not paying due attention to the issue despite of the instructions issued by the department of personnel and training vide memo number 12/192 /2009 -IR dated 20-1-2010 :-- Er Fateh chand Guleria Director RTI welfare Association registered number HPCD, 3552 , Bilaspur Himachal pradesh phone number, 9459334377