Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal at the Civil Secretariat today, marking a major step towards improving transparency and accountability in governance. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, several Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and other senior officials.
In his speech, Chief Minister Abdullah praised the officers who developed the portal, highlighting its potential to simplify the RTI application process for citizens. “This initiative will make government information more accessible under the RTI Act, offering a faster, transparent, and cost-effective way for citizens to obtain information,” he said.
He also urged authorities to promote the portal widely so that people across Jammu & Kashmir can benefit from it. Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) of Jammu and Kashmir, the portal shifts RTI applications from a manual to an online process. This change allows citizens to submit requests, track their status, and receive responses electronically, removing the need for physical visits to government offices.
Secretary of the General Administration Department, M. Raju, presented the portal’s features, emphasizing its accessibility, convenience, and role in promoting accountability. He highlighted the portal’s user-friendly interface, streamlined workflow, and robust documentation capabilities.
A standout feature of the portal is the issuance of a registration number via SMS and email, allowing applicants to easily track their RTI applications. The portal integrates 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers/public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and keeping citizens informed about government activities.
