The charter aims at timely disposal of appeals and complaints; RTI activists have welcome the move 

In order to ensure timely and speedy disposal of appeals and complaints, the Central Information Commission (CIC) is considering implementing its own Citizen’s Charter. A draft proposal has been moved by information commissioner Sailesh Gandhi. Chief information commissioner Satyananda Mishra has directed that the proposal would be put for up for discussion in a meeting of the commission on 27th December.

Right to Information (RTI) activists have welcomed this move by the CIC.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal, a Delhi-based RTI activist, while welcoming the move said, “Provision for priority hearing of petitions filed by senior and differently abled persons, and of petitions involving public interest are should also be included. Also there should be a special compliance officer in each registry of every central information commissioner to monitor compliance of CIC verdicts.”
 
He adds, “There are numerous such cases where public authorities do not care to respond to CIC verdicts. Registry of every information commissioner costs much to the public exchequer. But it can and should be best utilised by adequately increasing staff attached to each of the commissioner.”

The draft Citizen’s Charter emphasises on the following –

•  All appeals and complaints filed under Section 18 and 19 of the RTI Act will be decided as expeditiously as possible.

• Appellants and complainants will be given acknowledgement of their appeals or complaints within 30 days.  

•  Steps will be taken to ensure that every public authority including the CIC is disclosing the prescribed categories of information suo moto. The CIC will monitor whether such information is being updated periodically

•  Recommendations will be made to public authorities to take steps for confirming with, or promoting the spirit of the RTI Act. This may be done by CIC by way of its decisions, by holding meetings, seminars, etc.  

•  Efficient work practices will be adopted within every office of the CIC. This includes, among others, regular entry and updation of relevant records, speedier movement of files/correspondence, proper maintenance of files/documents, response to communications received by CIC in a reasonable time.

•   Efforts will be made to impart the requisite skills and training among officers, staff and other persons working in the CIC so that the work delivered is of high quality and standard.

•   Helpline facilities will be available on all workings days during working hours to assist in relation to matters arising out of the RTI Act.

•  The working and functions of the CIC must be subject to systematic and timely review by citizens. A system of inviting suggestions, comments or inputs from citizens by way of a suggestion box or any other means will be put in place. CIC will take cognizance of the feedback received and implement those measures that may improve its working and functioning. CIC will appoint an advisory council consisting of citizen’s representatives and government officers to suggest ways to provide better services and to evaluate its working with respect to its Citizen’s Charter.  

•  CIC will strive to increase awareness among citizens, including government officers, about the RTI Act. This may be done by putting information on CIC’s website, notice boards, distributing pamphlets.   

•   A complaint cell will be set up in the CIC to take cognizance of all complaints against the commission or its staff. The cell which will send a report to the complainant within 60 days of action taken on the complaint.

According to report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the commission said the move has seen strong opposition from its legal department. The department is of the view that there is no precedence of such a charter in any judicial or quasi-judicial body in the country. During a recent meeting of the commission, the minutes of which have been made public, joint secretary (law) at the CIC informed the commission that since the Citizen Charter is now part of the Lokpal Bill, currently under consideration in Parliament, it would be advisable to wait for the final outcome in Parliament in this regard.

The draft proposal aims to ensure that over 95% of appeals and complaints are adjudicated within 120 days of reaching the CIC and digitization of records and use of E- processes in the working of CIC by 2015.