Letter to Hon'Ble Governor

 

To:

Sri S. Abdul Nazeer

Hon’Ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh

Raj Bhavan

Vijayawada

Dear Sir,

Sub: Request for Action on Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in the State Information Commission

Ref-Compliance Report on CCTVs installation in AP Information commission (Annexure 1) and Compliance Report on attendance system (Annexure 2)..

We, the representatives of the United Forum for RTI Campaign-AP (UFRTI-AP), extend our greetings and introduce our organization. Dedicated to promoting the Right to Information Act and advocating for transparency in Andhra Pradesh, we appreciate the recent efforts made by the Chief Information Commissioner(CIC) of the State Information Commission to enhance transparency and accountability.

We commend the installation of CCTV cameras in the Commissioners' chambers and the surrounding premises, as well as the streamlining of hearing timings. These measures significantly contribute to transparency and efficiency, allowing citizens better access to justice through the commission. They represent crucial milestones in building trust and confidence in the commission's operations.

However, we express our concern over certain commissioners denying the installation of CCTVs in their chambers, thereby obstructing the recording of proceedings, and opposing the implementation of the new attendance system. Additionally, few commissioners are not delivering orders in Telugu as mandated by the CIC. Such non-compliance undermines the principles of transparency and accountability that the commission is entrusted to uphold. We firmly protest against such opposition, as these measures are essential for promoting transparency and accountability within the commission.

In this context, we respectfully request your guidance on the following recommendations:

1. Direct all commissioners to install CCTVs in their chambers to record all appeals and complaints, ensuring transparency and providing citizens with access to a comprehensive record of proceedings.(Office Order Rc. No: 19180/APIC/Esstt./2022, dated: 15.12.2022)

2. Direct all commissioners to comply with the orders of the CIC in recording attendance of staff members, thereby streamlining the timings of hearings to reduce inconvenience for citizens, enabling them to participate more conveniently(Office Order Rc. No: 19180/APIC/Esstt./2022, dated: 27.12.2022).

3. Direct commissioners not to undertake district tours, as these tours burden the commission financially without yielding significant benefits for RTI complainants. Instead, encourage the commission to prioritize online hearings, allowing participants to attend from anywhere in the state, reducing costs, and improving accessibility and efficiency.

4. Direct the commissioners to comply with the CIC's directive requiring the delivery of proceedings in Telugu, as mandated.(Office Order Rc. No: 19180/APIC/Esstt./2022, dated: 22.11.2022)

We earnestly request your attention to our concerns and urge you to take necessary measures to enhance transparency and accountability in governance. By doing so, Andhra Pradesh can serve as a beacon for other states in the country, setting a positive example for them to emulate.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Regards,

Emmanuel Dasari Chakradhar Buddha

Co-Convener Co-Convener

Ph-90599 90345 Ph-92465 22344

Copy to:

-Sri RM Basha, Chief Information commissioner, APIC

-Sri K.Praveen Kumar IAS, Special C.S(GPM&AR), General Administration Department

Annexure 1:

Compliance report on CCTVs Installation

Annexure 2:

Compliance report on attendance system