Poor file maintenance to blame for delay in reply: RTI official

MYSORE: Poor maintenance of files and lack of knowledge among officials are the main reasons for the delay in RTI replies, said Right to Information commissioner H N Krishna.
Interacting with media persons here on Saturday at the deputy commissioner's office he said when officials do not have proper knowledge about the subject, they keep postponing the work, resulting in delay.The governance has become more transparent and accountable since the implementation of Right to Information act, 2005. The RTI act has brought revolutionary changes. It has enabled the common man to seek information that is under governmental authority, said Krishna.
Misappropriations in urban development, revenue department, home department, education, transport and other departments have come to light through the RTI act, added Krishna.
In the last five years of implementation of the RTI act, fine to the tune of Rs 22,69,750 has been collected for not giving information on time, said Krishna.
There are 16,000 cases pending at the urban development department, 12,000 cases at the revenue department, 3,024 at commerce and industry, 4,500 cases at the home department and 3,000 cases at the education department.