The Gujarat Information Commission's move to hear appeals for various applications filed under the RTI through video conferencing is helping speed up the process of disposal of the appeals. The state in a release said that 119 such applications in two talukas of Banaskantha were disposed of in a span of just four hours recently. The state said that the move to ensure online hearing of such appeals is time-saving — for both citizens and officials. The RTI commissioners have been holding a hearing via video conferencing every Wednesday with various collector officers of the state. At a recent hearing concerning Vadgam and Palanpur taluka in Banaskantha, the information commissioner Virendra Pandya managed to dispose of 119 appeals from these two talukas in a span of just four hours. The state in a release said that during the hearing the commissioner not only heard the aggrieved party but the concerned officials and the information officer too. RTI activists have also welcomed the move. "Video conferencing of appeals began a few months ago and it is very effective, particularly for citizens," said Pankti Jog, an RTI activist. She said whenever information is refused by an information officer under RTI, citizens often file an appeal. "Earlier they would have to come all the way to Gandhinagar. In many cases after filing the appeal, they would not show up for the hearing because it would not be possible for them to come every now and then," said Jog, adding, now that the hearing is done via video conferencing the aggrieved party can come to the district collector's office. "Moreover, it will also give them a chance to interact with higher officials and state their problems," said Jog. She said it is also beneficial for officers as they do not have to waste their time travelling all the way to Gandhinagar for a hearing. It will also help curtail the travel expenses of officers for attending such hearings.

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