The Andhra Pradesh High Court in the case observed and has directed the State Government for filing the compliance report in respect of immediately setting up an online RTI portal for the State in accordance with the judgement of the Apex Court in the case Pravasi Legal Cell vs Union of India & Ors.
The Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice R. Raghunandan Rao in the case observed wherein the Public Interest Litigation, PIL moved by an advocate for the implementation of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the aforesaid case.
The court stated that this court is not sure if the GAD (General Administration Department) or the ITEC (Information Technology, Electronics and Communication) has to launch (the portal). Thus, the Supreme Court issued the order in March and it is the high time that the State Government takes immediate action for due compliance.
The petitioner in the plea contended that an RTI application had been filed by him in order to determine whether the aforesaid guidelines were being implemented and the ITEC replied to his application stated that there was no such proposal to launch any online portal.
Further, it has been contended before the court that the actions of the authorities in non-implementation of rules were illegal, arbitrary, and the same being in violation of principles of natural justice, and in violation of provisions under section 2f section 7 and its sub-clauses of the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The bench while considering the facts and circumstances of the case observed and has stated that all the State Governments and Union Territories were directed to set up online portals for the RTI Act and subsequently directed the State to file a status report on the implementation of the same within the period of 4 weeks.
The counsel, Advocate VVSS Srikanth G appeared for the petitioner.