Wajahat Habibullah takes oath as Info panel chief
Televisionpoint.com Team
The Right to Information Act is finally getting implemented as chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah took oath on Wednesday. But it will take some time before the act becomes fully operational, as the government is yet to make crucial appointments of nodal information officers. The Union personnel ministry is also planning to chalk out a strategy to inform people about the use of the act.
A high-ranking official of the ministry, said, "The ministry is planning to create awareness among the people about the use of act. The ministry will issue advertisements about the act in all national dailies in the country. Advertisements will also be telecast on leading TV channels."
"All departments have been instructed to appoint assistant public information officers, which will act as nodal officers, at the earliest. There are certain departments who have not appointed APIOs so far," said the official.
He further said, "Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relations with foreign state or material that may lead to incitement of an offence, which has been expressly forbidden, will not be provided under the act."
Information, the disclosure of which could cause a breach of privilege of Parliament, will not be provided, he said, adding information, including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property will be prohibited under the act. Information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for security will be strictly prohibited under the act, according to the official.
The Right to Information Act is finally getting implemented as chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah took oath on Wednesday. But it will take some time before the act becomes fully operational, as the government is yet to make crucial appointments of nodal information officers. The Union personnel ministry is also planning to chalk out a strategy to inform people about the use of the act.
A high-ranking official of the ministry, said, "The ministry is planning to create awareness among the people about the use of act. The ministry will issue advertisements about the act in all national dailies in the country. Advertisements will also be telecast on leading TV channels."
"All departments have been instructed to appoint assistant public information officers, which will act as nodal officers, at the earliest. There are certain departments who have not appointed APIOs so far," said the official.
He further said, "Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relations with foreign state or material that may lead to incitement of an offence, which has been expressly forbidden, will not be provided under the act."
Information, the disclosure of which could cause a breach of privilege of Parliament, will not be provided, he said, adding information, including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property will be prohibited under the act. Information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for security will be strictly prohibited under the act, according to the official.
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