Take Action on RTI Implementation at Gram Panchayat Level: Punjab & Haryana High Court
Last Updated on August 22, 2024 by Srijan Raj
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has directed Haryana’s Secretary, Rural Development Department, Haryana and the Director and Special Secretary of the Rural Development Department to state steps taken for implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI) at the Gram Panchayat level.
The court also sought details on the appointment of State Public Information Officers (SPIO) for an individual Gram Panchayat. Justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu highlighted that rural inhabitants are compelled to file writ petitions in the High Court because they are not provided information under RTI on “grants/funds received/utilized by the respective Gram Panchayat(s).”
The court cited the example of Uttar Pradesh, where Panchayat Secretaries have been appointed as SPIOs for an individual Gram Panchayat under the RTI Act, and citizens can access information and obtain photocopies of documents by applying to the Panchayat Secretary on a plain piece of paper after paying the requisite fee.
The court impleaded the State of Haryana through the Commissioner & Secretary, Rural Development Department, Haryana and the Director & Special Secretary, Rural Development Department, Haryana as respondents. The court directed them to file their respective affidavits, indicating the steps taken for implementation of the RTI Act at Gram Panchayat level, including uploading of relevant information about the receipt of grants/funds and their utilization thereof, and for appointment of the SPIOs for an individual Gram Panchayat(s).
The matter was deferred to September 19.
