RTI activists to stage dharna on March 13

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Various Right to Information (RTI) activists and organisations will stage a dharna in front of the State Information Commission on March 13. The dharna will be inaugurated by social activist K Venu. RTI activists in a press meet announced that the dharna would be organised against the anti-people stand being pursued by the State Information Commission.Speaking on the occasion, P Sharafudeen of Right to Information Act Protection committee said that the negative stand maintained by the Information commissioner has led to the public being denied justice.The RTI Act was formulated to curb corruption and to give justice to the common man. The Information Commission has the responsibility to ensure this. “But the transparency required during the proceedings and hearing has been absent,” he said.He also criticised that though 90 out of total 100 complaints registered with the Information Commissioner against denial of information were proved genuine, no actions were initiated against them.Several bureaucrats who had compromised with corruption have become commissioners. Most of the postings are made on the basis of political connections. This procedure should be quashed and the posting should be made transparent.“Some bureaucrats who have worked under the Official Secrets Act have become commissioners, and are now trying to gag dissemination of informaton, he alleged.