Information Commission asks Local Bodies Dept to provide info under RTI Act

JALANDHAR: The Punjab State Information Commission has sent a notice to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, for not providing information under the Right to Information Act 2005 to Nakodar-based Gaurav Tandon directing the PIO to appear for the hearing with the facts of the case.

Gagandeep Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 8

The Punjab State Information Commission has sent a notice to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, for not providing information under the Right to Information Act 2005 to Nakodar-based Gaurav Tandon directing the PIO to appear for the hearing with the facts of the case.

Apart from this, the State Information Commission has also instructed the Local Bodies to file a written reply before the next date of hearing with an advance copy to the complainant that has to be signed by the PIO.

Gaurav Tandon had sought information on August 20, 2014, regarding the ongoing case at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as to how much money the Local Bodies Department has spent on the case till date, asking for the information since the case had landed at the NGT.

He asked that the information should include lawyers’ fee, travel expenditure and other such expenses. He asked which officials had visited Delhi or other parts of the country regarding the case as part of official tour. The case has been fixed for hearing before Satinder Pal Singh, State Information Commissioner, Punjab, on March 20.

The commission has directed the PIO, Local Bodies, to appear in person or through an authorised officer who should be well conversant with the facts of the case. The commission said in case the PIO is represented by an authorised officer at the time of hearing, his version and statement before the commission will be treated as if made by the PIO.

The commissioner said if the PIO fails to respond, further orders will be passed in his absence.

Speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, Gaurav Tandon said observing that the Local Bodies was reluctant to provide the information, he had filed a complaint with the State Information Commissioner around 15 days ago. However, the State Information Commission responded only two days ago.

A case has been going on at the NGT regarding cleanliness issues in the state and solid waste management project.