NEW DELHI: Stressing the need for creating more awareness among people about the Right to Information Act and making government officials more knowledgeable about it for its effective implementation, the Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah on Sunday said the public has the right to know about various policies, works and actions of the government and the authorities should not deny information on grounds of secrecy and confidentiality unless the matter was really worth it.

Taking part in a first-ever "Jansunwai" (public hearing) on RTI Act organised by non-government organisation Parivartan, Mr. Habibullah said the government authorities also cannot deny information on a sub judice matter and should follow all rules and regulations. This aspect was very important when it comes to cases dealing with human rights and corruption and it was up to the Information Commissioners to decide on the merit of a case, he added.

Lauding the role of Parivartan in organising the public hearing, Mr. Habibullah said: "We are still dealing with some tricky questions and points in the Act and are trying to find some answers to it. We have been holding discussions and meetings so that people's queries could be answered in a more effective and transparent manner."

A large number of people, including social activists, lawyers, students, journalists and retired bureaucrats took part in the meeting. Prominent among them included social activist Anna Hazare, former Chief Election Commissioner T. S. Krishnamurthy, former Governor P. C. Alexander, Magsaysay awardee and social activist Sandeep Pandey, human rights activist Nandita Haksar and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan.

Parivartan's head and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal expressed concern over the weak clause regarding penal action against lax Information Officers and demanded strict action against those who deliberatively deny information or mislead applicants. "Imposition of heavy penalties on guilty officers would send a clear message and save the Act from becoming ineffective," he asserted.

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