The Jammu and Kashmir RTI Foundation has expressed several concerns regarding the newly launched J&K Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal in a press statement. While acknowledging the portal’s potential to enhance government transparency and simplify the RTI filing process, the Foundation highlighted several operational and structural issues that could impede its effectiveness.
1. Confusing Homepage Message:
The portal’s homepage prominently displays a warning advising users not to file RTI requests for Central or other State Government departments. The Foundation argues that this message, without any welcoming or reassuring text, could confuse and discourage first-time users. They recommend including a friendly message clarifying that the portal is exclusively for J&K government departments to enhance user experience.
2. Mandatory Document Upload:
Applicants are required to upload a PDF document when filing an RTI request, even after entering the request text in the designated field. The Foundation considers this requirement redundant and notes that it is inconsistent with the Central RTI Online Portal (https://rtionline.gov.in/), where uploading documents is optional. Additionally, users who fail to upload a document are redirected to an error page, forcing them to restart the process. The Foundation suggests making the document upload optional and incorporating inline validation to allow users to correct errors without restarting the application.
3. Refund and Application Transfer Issues:
After submitting an RTI application, users receive a message stating that the application fee will not be refunded if the relevant public authority is not integrated into the portal. The message also warns that the application will not be transferred to the appropriate authority. The Foundation urges the government to onboard all public authorities to the portal or use Section 6(3) of the RTI Act to forward applications to the relevant authority, even if it is not part of the system.
4. Exclusion of J&K Bank:
The Foundation strongly criticized the exclusion of Jammu and Kashmir Bank from the portal. As a public authority under the RTI Act, the Bank is legally required to provide information to the public. Despite having an RTI section on its website, citizens are unable to file RTI requests for the Bank through the new portal. The Foundation has received multiple complaints from applicants and has demanded the immediate integration of the Bank into the system.
5. Lack of Email Confirmations:
Currently, the portal sends SMS notifications to users upon application submission but does not provide email confirmations. The Foundation recommended introducing email notifications, similar to the Central RTI Portal, to provide applicants with an official record of their submissions.
Recommendations for Improvement
The J&K RTI Foundation lauded the government’s initiative but emphasized the need to address these issues promptly to maximize the portal’s utility.
“These shortcomings, if not rectified, could undermine the very purpose of the RTI portal—to ensure transparency and accountability in governance. We urge the government to act swiftly in resolving these concerns,” the statement read.
The Foundation remains optimistic that with the suggested improvements, the portal can effectively serve as a robust tool for public accountability in Jammu and Kashmir.
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