People must use RTI as a tool to save and grow democracy- Surinder Avasthi

Ludhiana, February 16, 2015: Right to Information Act is a tool to strengthen democratic institutions by making them responsible and accountable by providing the information needed by the public at large. People must come forward by invoking RTI where ever they find that information must be procured for the common good. Right to Information Act2005 is a comprehensive law which provide a network to get information from the public offices. These were the views presented by Surinder Avasthi, Information Commissioner Punjab in the State Information Commission. Dr.Avasthi was delivering a talk on the theme “Right to Information Act-2005” and its role in strengthen the democracy in the country in the seminar organised by S.C.D Government College, Ludhiana in the Sahir Auditorium. Surinder Avasthi said that young generation must have the knowledge of the RTI Provisions and they should use this as a tool to make the public institutions more accountable. He stressed on the need for the public institutions to fulfill their responsibilities by putting the important information on the website of their organisations as per the provisions of the section 4 of the RTI Act. He comprehensively explained the provisions of the RTI to get the information. He said that State Information Commission Punjab is making all the efforts to simply the procedure of asking the information. He said that it is not necessary for the information seeker to explain the reason of asking the information. He urged the public information officers of the various public offices to be considerate in providing the information so that complaints and appeals before the commission can be reduced. He also urged the public to invoke RTI only for positive purposes and not to harass the public authorities.

The students of the college raised various questions to Avasthi regarding RTI applications which were duly replied by Avasthi. 

Principal of the College Dr. Dharm Singh   Sandhu said that basic purpose of this seminar was to make the students and teachers aware about the various applications of the Right to Information Act.

On this occasion many professors including  Dr.Ashwani Bhalla and   Dr. Mukesh Arora were also present.