RTI info denied, Rs 50,000 fine on F’bad MC official

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, September 9

The State Information Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs50,000 on an Assistant Engineer of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF), for not replying to two applications submitted under the RTI Act.

In the orders passed recently, whose copies were made available to the applicant on August 30, 2018, Arun Sangwan, the State Information Commissioner, said the SPIO (Assistant Engineer, MCF) was directed to reply to the show-cause notice (SCN) issued on January 19, 2018, but neither the official nor his representative appeared before the Commission.

It was stated that in response to the RTI applications, filed separately on June 10 and 11, 2016, the SPIO failed to provide a satisfactory response, which made the applicant to file the first appeal on August 2, 2016, and the second appeal on May 17, 2017. Though the Commission directed the SPIO to provide complete information to the appellant within 20 days, on January 19, 2018, a show-cause notice to him was issued for a penalty of Rs 250 per day and he was also directed to appear personally on April 3, 2018.

“No information has been provided to the appellant by the SPIO despite the SCN issued,” observes the order, which adds that the SPIO showed his defiance in supply of information and has exhibited casualness and irresponsibility. “After due consideration, keeping in mind the intent of the RTI Act with regard to the public authorities, the Commission imposes a penalty of Rs25,000 on each of the two cases (applications) on OP Mor, Assistant Engineer (Building), of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad,” it says. It is to be deposited with the relevant authorities before September 30, 2018, says the order.

The matter concerned two applications submitted by KL Gera a local resident, who had sought information about the existence of banquet halls and marriage gardens in the industrial belt of the city and the encroachments in the NIT area of the city.

Recommending disciplinary action against the official, the Commissioner, MCF, has been advised action within 45 days of the receipt of the order.