Avinash Azad
Within a day of its much-anticipated launch, the J&K RTI Online Portal (https://rtionline.jk.gov.in/) has come under fire from users and organizations alike, as social media erupts with complaints about glaring operational flaws.
Despite being unveiled by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday—nearly a month after Chief Secretary Atal Dullo’s announcement to roll out the service by December 10, 2024—the portal has left citizens frustrated, raising questions about its readiness and efficacy in delivering on promises of transparency and accessibility.
Public Response: Social Media Reactions Highlight Frustrations
Social media users were quick to point out various issues they encountered while trying to file RTI applications. Many flagged the mandatory PDF upload requirement and the confusing warning messages on the homepage as significant hurdles. A user remarked, “Why do I need to upload a PDF when I’ve already written the request in the text box? It’s frustrating to restart the process every time I miss a step.” Others expressed concerns about the exclusion of certain public authorities, including Jammu and Kashmir Bank, from the portal. Complaints poured in about the lack of email confirmations for submissions, leaving applicants without a formal record of their requests.
J&K RTI Foundation Raises Alarm: Detailed Critique of Portal Flaws
The J&K RTI Foundation identified several operational shortcomings that could deter citizens from using the portal effectively:
Exclusion of J&K Bank
Despite being a public authority under the RTI Act, Jammu and Kashmir Bank is not integrated into the portal. The Foundation emphasized the urgency of addressing this gap, noting that the Bank’s separate RTI section on its website (https://www.jkbank.com/others/common/rtiBank.php) complicates the filing process for applicants. It is worth highlighting that Jammu and Kashmir Bank remained outside the ambit of the RTI Act 2009 until the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, after which it finally declared itself a public authority. The Bank has frequently been in the spotlight for controversial reasons, with allegations of misconduct, political appointments, and mismanagement leading to ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into past wrongdoings by its management.
Homepage Warning Message:
The portal prominently displays a warning advising users not to file RTI requests for Central Government or other State Government departments. The Foundation argues that this placement is confusing and potentially intimidating for first-time users. It has suggested replacing it with a welcoming message that clarifies the portal’s purpose while reassuring applicants.
Mandatory PDF Upload:
Unlike the Central RTI Online Portal (https://rtionline.gov.in/), which treats document uploads as optional, the J&K portal requires applicants to upload a PDF, regardless of the request content. If the upload is omitted, users face an error page and must restart their application. The Foundation called for this requirement to be removed and proposed validation prompts to guide users instead.
Refund and Transfer Policy for Non-Integrated Authorities
The portal warns users that the application fee will not be refunded and applications will not be forwarded if the relevant public authority is not integrated. The Foundation urged the government to onboard all authorities or utilize Section 6(3) of the RTI Act to transfer applications to the appropriate departments.
Lack of Email Confirmations Although users receive SMS confirmations upon submission, the absence of email notifications leaves them without an official record of their application. The Foundation recommended introducing email acknowledgments, as is standard with the Central RTI Online Portal. In its statement, the Foundation noted, “The online RTI portal is a commendable step towards transparency, but the issues we’ve highlighted could alienate users and defeat its purpose.”
