President's Office is "misusing" the RTI Act: Ahid
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined the President’s Office MVR 2,000 for failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Despite government allegations that journalists are abusing the RTI process, Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed asserted that it is, in fact, the President’s Office that is misusing the law by obstructing access to information.
A scene from a hearing at the Information Commissioner’s Office regarding a case filed by RaajjeTV against the President’s Office under the Right to Information Act. | Raajje MV
Information Commissioner Ahid Rasheed has stated that the President's Office is misusing the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Ahid made these remarks during a hearing regarding a case filed by RaajjeTV against the President's Office. During the proceedings, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) fined the President's Office MVR 2,000 for repeatedly obstructing the Commissioner's statutory duties. The President's Office was penalized under the authority granted by Section 67 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICOM) has fined the President’s Office for failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The penalty was imposed following an investigation into complaints regarding the President’s Office's failure to respond to RTI requests within the statutory timeframe. Despite being granted an additional period to rectify these issues, the President’s Office failed to adhere to the legal requirements.
Regarding the matter, Ahid stated that during various press conferences held by the President's Office, officials have been speaking in a manner that criminalizes those who submit Right to Information (RTI) requests, alleging that such requests are an abuse of the law.
However, Ahid noted that, in reality, it is the President's Office that is misusing this law.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham has previously criticized those who submit Right to Information (RTI) requests. Usham stated that while it is important to provide information to those who use the RTI Act in good faith, the law is frequently seen being misused. He further noted that the nature of some RTI requests requires government agencies to dedicate an excessive amount of time to processing them.
Furthermore, Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef defended the failure to respond to Right to Information (RTI) requests, asserting that not all submitted inquiries are legitimate.
