Kerala State Information Commissioner flags issue of evasive replies to RTI queries

Kochi: Kerala State Information Commissioner A Abdul Hakeem on Friday said that an applicant seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act should be given accurate information and not mere reply. The information should be proper and accurate, he emphasized. Hakeem noted that denial of information sought under the RTI act would invite action against the officials concerned. He added that action would be taken against officials giving replies like "information not available” and “not applicable”. 

He was delivering an inaugural address at a program held at Chavara Cultural Centre here in connection with the completion of 18 years of the implementation of the RTI Act.

According to Hakeem, officials should not find solace in the rationale that an RTI application could wait up to 30 days. The reply should be given then itself or within five days, he said. 

Hakeem during his speech also elaborated on the importance of the RTI act in democracy.