http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Pune/Faster-disposal-of-RTI-cases-is-the-challenge/articleshow/4239784.cms
'Faster disposal of RTI cases is the challenge' 7 Mar 2009, 2327 hrs IST, TNN PUNE: State information commissioner for Pune division Vijay Kuvalekar said that faster disposal of cases under the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 is the challenge ahead. He also said that the Act should benefit the common man, while steps should be taken to make people aware about the Act. Kuvalekar was speaking at an interview organised by the Surajya Sangharsha Samiti and the Sajag Nagrik Manch to mark two years since the Pune bench for RTI was established. He was interviewed by RTI activists Vivek Velankar and Vijay Kumbhar and shared his experiences with the audience. "The RTI Act has strong social implications. Therefore, on some occasions, decisions were taken considering the social implications, said Kuvalekar. "It is also important that government departments provide due seriousness while dealing with RTI cases." "The case of the university examination answer sheet, taken up under the RTI, witnessed a significant response from the education field," Kumbhar added. "The number of cases under the Act that are pending is a matter of concern and debate. Various steps have been initiated to reduce this, including district-wise hearing and a special hearing programme." While stressing the need to bring down the pendency, Kuvalekar said, "Offices are facing a staff crunch and infrastructure problems. The offices also witness a delay in sanctioning from the government. "The pendency has also gone up because some people file too many cases. The Act is for public interest and not for personal gain. For example, an applicant asked for information about land dealings which took place in a village in the last 100 years. This is an instance of misuse of the RTI Act."
