"We have a sanctioned staff strength of 79 but are functioning with just 30
people," Habibullah told HT on Saturday Worse, the Commission con . tinues
to function out of a makeshift office in a guesthouse in the old Jawaharlal
Nehru University campus building. "Initially, we used to receive 10 to 15
appeals a month. Last month we got around 600. We need more space to
function," he said.

The result: The appeals continue to pile up and the disposal rate is less
than 50 per cent, sources said.

For the current financial year, the Commission had sought Rs 11 crore for
its operations and the costs involved in setting up a larger office. "We got
only Rs 5 crore," said Habibullah.

"We are a quasi-judicial body but assume the orthodox structure of any other
government department," Habibullah further revealed.

The CIC completed a year on October 26. The UPA government counts the RTI
legislation as one of its biggest achievements. Attempts to amend the Act by
keeping file notings out had to be put on hold after Congress President
Sonia Gandhi intervened.

"The Prime Minister must take personal interest in providing logistical
support to the Commission," said activist Aruna Roy The Act empowers . the
government to appoint eight commissioners; there are only five now.
jatin.gandhi@hindustantimes.com


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