JK Guv for replacing culture of secrecy with openness,

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today inaugurated a RTI Regional Conference here and demanded replacement of culture of secrecy with openness and public participation to root out corruption.
Vohra said for effective functioning of the RTI Act considerable improvement need to be brought about in the maintenance of records in the public offices and to replace the traditional secrecy with openness and transparency except in matters which need to remain undisclosed in the national interest.
He expressed gratification that despite the initial difficulties the RTI Act has taken deep roots in the country.
However, the Governor observed, a good deal of work is still required to be done for ensuring that this statute is put to meaningful use to promote transparency and accountability and reduction of corruption.

In this context he pointed to the importance of ensuring that all stakeholders are made aware of their rights and encouraged to make judicious use of the RTI Act to promote the larger public interest.
The Governor said that he had the opportunity of closely observing the evolution of the acceptance of this law in J&K and complimented Sufi, Chief Information Commissioner J&K, for stabilizing the functioning of the State Information Commission despite the difficulties faced in the initial period.

This Conference has been organized by the Institute of Management and Public Administration& Rural Development, J&K, in collaboration with the State Information Commission.

He observed that we may see considerable reduction in the number of RTI applications which are being received by the public authorities if Section 4 of RTI Act is implemented and the public authorities suo moto disclose information by putting up the same on their websites.
The Governor observed that RTI Act has been strengthened through various Supreme Court rulings lending it a constitutional status.
Vohra said that today's Regional Conference is another step towards creating awareness amongst all stakeholders, Government functionaries and the public at large.
He wished the participants success in their deliberations and hoped that many sound suggestions will emerge.