At a moment when the RTI Act has been promulgated with effect from 15^th June last, and the rules under the Act are yet to be notified to enable the public authorities to operationalise its various provisions slated to take effect from the statutory deadline of 12^th October 05, a Seminar was organised by the Orissa High Court Bar Association in their auditorium on 24^th of Sept. involving primarily the judges and lawyers to discuss different aspects of giving operational shape to this law.

At 11 AM the Seminar was inaugurated by Justice Shri Sujit Barman Ray, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. Justice Shri D.P.Mohapatra, former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission and former Judge of Supreme Court graced the occasion as its Chief Guest. Presided over by Mr.Bibhudhendu Mishra, President of the Association, the Seminar was addressed by Justice Shri I.M.Quddusi, a Judge of Orissa High Court as its Chief Speaker. Besides, Justice Shri A.S.Naidu Judge of Orissa High Court, Shri Jagannath Patnaik, Chairman Bar Council of India and Shri B.K.Behura a veteran lawyer spoke in the inaugural session, all highlighting the unique significance and various nuances of the new law. Mr.Banoj Kumar Patnaik, Secretary of the Association presented a vote of thanks to the dignitaries and participants of the inaugural session.

A Second Session of the Seminar was held post lunch, with Shri Dharanidhar Nayak, Chairman of Orissa State Bar Council in the chair and addressed by Sri.Manoranjan Mohanty Member (Judicial) Central Administrative Tribunal and Sri Chitta Behera, a social activist of repute. Shri Behera in his address while hailing the new RTI Act as a unique, path-breaking legislation emphasised the need for appropriate, citizen-friendly Rules to be made at the moment by the appropriate Governments and competent authorities including the judiciary, but for which the true intentions behind the new legislation couldn’t be realised at all.

Based upon the deliberations made in the Seminar, the house felt by way of a consensus that at the moment certain loopholes as found in the Act could possibly be plugged in by way of incorporating suitable corrective provisions in the Rules to be made. The two main provisions suggested for incorporation are a time limit for disposal of a complaint or an appeal by the Information Commission under the Section 19 of the Act and the instant issue of an acknowledgement receipt to the applicant against the application for information under Section 6. The house further felt that the concerned authorities should circulate the draft rules and invite objections, if any from the members of public before making their final notification in the Gazette. Taking a dig into the Rules related to the various fees under the Act published recently by the Ministry of Personnel Government of India for the Central Government offices, the house felt that the charges proposed for inspection (that is Rs.5/- for each 15 minutes following the first hour), photocopying (that is Rs.2/- for each page) and electronic medium (Rs.50/- for each CD or floppy) were too high, and needed to be drastically reduced to enable an average Indian to access official information under the Act.

The Seminar came to a close after a vote of thanks was presented by Sri Khirod Kumar Rout, the Joint Secretary of Orissa Hogh Court Bar Association.

Report By: Kshirod Kumar Rout, Joint Secretary, Orissa High Court Bar Association, Cuttack.