New Delhi: Newly appointed Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Bimal Julka called on Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also In-Charge Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), which is the nodal Ministry for Information Commission. Julka, a 1979 batch IAS officer, who retired as Union Secretary Information & Broadcasting in 2015, was after superannuation appointed as Information Commissioners at the Centre and a few days back, he was appointed Chief Information Commissioner, following the superannuation of Sudhir Bhargva.
During his 20 minutes meeting with the Minister, Chief Information Commissioner gave a brief about the working of the Information Commission and explained how in the recent years the disposal rate of the cases had significantly increased as a result of the support from the government as well as an increasing use of modern technology or Portals. Julka also briefed Dr Jitendra Singh about the steps taken to include the newly created Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh under the purview of Chief Information Commissioner.
Dr Jitendra Singh referred to a number of path breaking initiatives taken by the Modi government to improve upon the functioning of the Information Commission and at the same time prompt disposal of RTI appeals. It was during this government, he said, the 24 hours Portal Service was introduced for e-filing of RTI during any part of the day and night and from any part of the country or abroad.
As for the new Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the significant change now is that the non-domiciles and non-State subjects of Jammu & Kashmir will also now be entitled to file RTI related to Union Territory issues or agencies. Dr Jitendra Singh also lauded the shifting of the office of the Chief Information Commissioner to its own exclusive office complex, while it had been operating from a rented accommodation till about two years back. He said, Modi government is committed to ensure absolute transparency with maximum citizen – participation in the functioning of the government.
