New chief R K Mathur receives complaint against CIC

NEW DELHI: Newly-appointed Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur has received a complaint alleging poor RTI response system at the transparency panel and a "tendency to avoid uncomfortable queries".

In his complaint to Mathur, activist Subhash Agrawal has said the Central Public Information Officers of the CIC transfer petitions on 30th day of receipt whereas law says it should be done within five days.

"Responses from different CPIOs come at different intervals, many-a-times much-much (sic) after even 30 days of receipt of RTI petition by concerned CPIOs. Many concerned CPIOs even do not care to respond," he said in his complaint.

Agrawal also alleged that some of the officials misbehave with RTI applicant even in the presence of their seniors.

"Recently hearing of first appeals on RTI petitions dated April 30, 2015 and May 5, 2015 were put on hearing on February 10, 2016 where attitude of some senior officers (CPIOs) was extremely rough and rude even in presence of the Additional Secretary (First Appellate Authority)," he said.