Punjab News:State Information Commissioner Harpreet Sandhu Represents Punjab at the National Conference on RTI in Hyderabad
State Information Commissioner Punjab Harpreet Sandhu represented the Punjab State Information Commission at the National Conference of Information Commissions held at Hyderabad on the theme, “RTI: Operational Uniformity in Implementation – Challenges and Solutions”, a subject of vital importance to democratic governance, transparency and accountability in public administration.
State Information Commissioner, Punjab Harpreet Sandhu had the distinction of being a Speaker at the National Conference, where he delivered his keynote address on the given subject of Digital Personal Data Protection Act and its evolving interface with the Right to Information Act. SIC Punjab addressing an audience comprising of the Central Chief Information Commissioner of India, R. K. Goyal, IAS (Retd.), and Chief Information Commissioners and Information Commissioners from 25 States of India, highlighted the emerging challenges and the need to maintain an appropriate balance between the citizen’s fundamental right to information, protection of personal data and the larger public interest.
The National Conference brought together senior functionaries of Information Commissions from across the country, providing an important national platform for deliberation on strengthening the effective, uniform and citizen-centric implementation of the Right to Information Act. The deliberations witnessed participation from Information Commissions representing States including Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Delhi, Punjab, Chennai, Kerala, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh, among others.
The significance Harpreet Sandhu’s address on personal data protection and its interface with the RTI framework was acknowledged by the Central Chief Information Commissioner of India, Shri R. K. Goyal, IAS (Retd.), particularly in the context of promoting transparency, accountability and effective implementation of the RTI Act in the evolving digital governance environment.
SIC Punjab Harpreet Sandhu also represented Punjab at the 34th Meeting of the Board of Governors of the National Federation of Information Commissions in India (NFICI), held at the Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad. His participation marked an important representation of the Punjab State Information Commission at the national level and reflected the significance of Punjab’s contribution to deliberations concerning the strengthening and effective implementation of the Right to Information regime in India.
SIC Punjab Harpreet Sandhu presented the official souvenir on behalf of the Punjab State Information Commission to the Central Chief Information Commissioner of India, R. K. Goyal, IAS (Retd.), and the Chief Information Commissioner of Telangana, Dr. G. Chandrashekar Reddy, IFS (Retd.) in the presence of Hon’ble Governor of Telangana Shiv Pratap Shukla, who was the Chief guest during the National Conference in Hyderabad.
The participation of SIC Punjab Harpreet Sandhu at the National Conference and the NFICI Board of Governors meeting provided an important platform for sharing perspectives, experiences and institutional practices aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and the effective functioning of the Right to Information framework in the country.
Director General Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad Dr. N. Ramesh Kumar, IAS (Retd.) felicitated State Information Commissioner, Punjab Harpreet Sandhu on behalf of Telangana State Information Commission for his participation in the National Conference on RTI held in Hyderabad on 12th September 2026.