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IAS officers demand changes in RTI Act

"Check misuse, end arbitrary suspensions"

LUCKNOW: IAS officers in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday demanded suitable amendments to check misuse of the Right to Information Act and sought an end to their ``arbitrary'' suspensions.

Misuse of the Act was ``hampering'' working, particularly in the districts, state IAS Association General Secretary Sanjay Bhusreddy told reporters here.

While welcoming the RTI, he said the officers felt that the government should take steps to check its misuse.

``The Information Commissioners summon the district magistrates and other senior officials in cases pertaining to RTI though lower-level officers level can also do the job,'' he said.

``Frequent summoning of senior officials hamper work in the districts''.

He also said the Association would prepare a dossier of suspensions of IAS officers during the past ten years in the state and submit it to the Centre.

He said the government must ensure some stability of tenure at least for some posts like chief secretary, principal secretaries of forest, planning, health, appointment, finance and district magistrates and chief development officers.

``A minimum of two-year tenure should ensured for such postings''.

Apprehending that the proposed new Police Act providing for commissioner system could encroach upon their authority, Bhusreddy said the association would take up the matter with the state and Central governments.

A resolution was adopted at the IAS meet suggesting amendment in the Hindu Succession Act and Revenue Act granting property rights to the girls in a bid to check incidents of female foeticide, he said. - PTI

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