SIC slaps penalty on PIOs for failing to provide information under RTI Act
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Taking a stern note of failure to provide necessary information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the State Information Commission has slapped a penalty of Rs 25,000 on a public information officer (PIO) of Panchayati Raj department. The commission has imposed a similar penalty on a PIO of the School Education department in another case.
Udham Singh Nagar district resident Nikhilesh Gharami had sought information under the RTI Act about the works done in the Gram Panchayats of Devipura, Diori, Bidaura, Gidhaur, Khamaria, Khairana, Balkheda and Siddhanavadiya under Sitarganj block of the district. However, when the PIO of the office concerned failed to provide necessary information even after a year, Gharami filed an appeal to the SIC. Acting in the case, the State Information Commissioner Yogesh Bhatt summoned the PIO and Gram Panchayat development officer Meenu Arya and the Gram Pradhans concerned.
In the hearing, PIO Arya provided partial information to the applicant, while all the Pradhans informed the commission in writing that all the records related to the information are with Ayra.
In his order Bhatt slapped a penalty of Rs 25,000 on Arya and recommended departmental action. Following the order the district Panchayati Raj officer of Udham Singh Nagar suspended Arya.
In another case, Bhatt slapped a penalty of Rs 25,000 on PIO and chief administrative officer, deputy education officer, Khanpur, Haridwar Bhaskarnand Pant for failing to provide satisfactory information to appellant Balwant Singh Panwar of Dehradun.
