Update your website – CIC tells Commerce Ministry; CBEC and CBDT should take note
The appellant had requested information on SEZ as
i. Details of authorization (s), if any, made u/s 19(b) by Central Govt in regard to exercise of its powers under various Central Acts in mattes relating to SEZ in Delhi.
ii. Copies of notification (s), if any, issued under section 20 by Central Govt. to specify officer/agency for inspections for securing of compliance with the provisions of any Central Act in case of SEZ in Delhi.
iii. Copies of notification (s), if any, issued under section 21(1) by Central Govt to specify as notified offences acts or omission punishable under any Central Act in force in Delhi.
iv. Copies of order (s), if any, issued by Central Govt. u/s 21(2) to authorize any officer or agency for enforcement in respect of notifies offence, if any have been notified, in Delhi.
She did not get any reply and is before the Commission. She also told the Commission that the website of the public authority is not up to date in many respects. She averred that the information provided is not in tune with section 4 of the RTI Act. She insisted the departmental web-site should be updated periodically as and when the decisions are taken. She has made special emphasis to Sec. 4 disclosure which is not at all satisfactory in their web-site. The Commission directed the Department to
i. to instruct the concerned authorities to update the website details.
ii. indicate the name of the AA clearly while giving his replies in future and strictly adhere to the time frame prescribed under RTI Act.
Though this order is pertaining to the Commerce Ministry, the Finance Ministry is no better. The web sites of the premier tax Boards, CBEC and CBDT are pathetic apologies. See the Act for Service Tax in the CBEC website, it has not been updated for more than an year. Yesterday, a senior Judge called me up and wanted some information on Service Tax. He had made a thorough search of the Service Tax web site and was totally dissatisfied. He pointed out an interesting item, he could find in the site.