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Perturbed by the pendency of the Right To Information (RTI) applications and appeals with some of its divisions beyond the stipulated timelines, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has fixed tight internal timelines for the divisions to comply with the regulations with directions for strict adherence.
The RTI Cell of the CDSCO said that it has been observed that several RTI appeals are pending beyond the prescribed disposal timeline of 45 days in some divisions. Similarly, without revealing any numbers, it noted that there are instances where RTI applications are not being addressed within the stipulated time frame.
Following a meeting to discuss the issue, the CDSCO has instructed the divisions, the designated public information officers (DPI), and concerned officers in its headquarters that the concerned official must submit a complete reply to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) within 15 days to review and submit the response through the relevant portal.
If the RTI application is partially related to the division, the concerned official must submit their part of the reply to the CPIO within seven days, for the CPIO to consolidate responses from other divisions.
The divisions must forward the RTI applications that not pertain to their division to the appropriate division or department within two days through the designated portal. The DPIO should also submit a reply to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) within two days, indicating that the RTI has been transferred to the relevant division or external department.
In terms of appeals, if the original RTI application was responded to by more than two divisions, the appeal reply must be submitted within two days to the RTI Cell through e-office. If only one division handled the original RTI application, the appeal reply should be submitted within seven days to the Cell.
In cases where the FAA seeks comments from divisions that did not respond to the original RTI application, the concerned Division Head must provide a response within two days, it added.
Replies for second appeals must be submitted by each Division Head to the RTI Cell within two days. It also instructed the DPIOs to attend Central Information Commission hearings as scheduled, along with the CPIO through the head of the concerned division. Besides, all division should update information, if any, on official website under Sue-Muto in every week, informed the RTI Cell.
It sought all division and officers to ensure strict compliance with the instructions to avoid delays and ensure smooth functioning of RTI-related matters.
"In case the reply is not submitted within the stipulated period and any penalty is imposed by the Central Information Commission (CIC), the responsibility for the same shall rest with the concerned DPIO/Division Head, as per the provisions of the RTI Act," added the Cell.
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