9,175 RTI applications pending for disposal; all posts of information commissioners lying vacant: Punjab Youth Congress

Chandigarh, August 12

Accusing the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government of making mockery of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) today said at least 9,175 applications are pending for disposal with Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC).

Linking the inordinate delay in filling all 10 vacant posts of Information Commissioners, PYC president Mohit Mohindra at a press conference alleged that the AAP government was trying to hide its misdeeds from public by delaying the information. Presently, the commission only has Chief Information Commissioner.

“It is not only weakening of the RTI Act but discouraging people from seeking information. The government has made it tough to seek information under the RTI Act. There is no information commissioner for the past several months,” said Mohindra.

Sharing information on the pendency of application sought from the commission, PYC said as on June 30, 9,175 applications were pending. The pendency has only increased since then.

PYC RTI Cell in-charge Jashandeep Singh said the Chief Minister had earlier claimed that they have signed MoUs worth Rs 38,000 crore for investment in the state. “An RTI information taken by the RTI cell of PYC revealed that only one MoU worth Rs 2,600 crore has been signed with TATA Steels in the last two-and-a-half years. In advertisements, the government claimed of having signed MoUs worth Rs 70,000 crore investment,” he said.

Another RTI information secured by PYC revealed that AAP had spent over Rs 7 crore on its rallies. “The Deputy Commissioner Bathinda had spent Rs 4.16 crore on a political rally of AAP in Mour Mandi held on December 17, 2023. Seven such rallies were organised and government buses were misused. The Civil Aviation department is refusing information on the use of its aircraft and helicopter by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Even appeals filed under the RTI Act were dismissed,” said Jashandeep Singh.