Delay in RTI info, City Magistrate gets notice

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, March 17

The Right to Information Commission, Haryana, has issued a show-cause notice to the local City Magistrate, asking him to explain why he should not be penalised for the delay in providing information under the RTI Act. The commission has ordered a compensation of Rs5,000 to an RTI applicant.

The order was delivered on February 28 by Narinder Singh Yadav, Commissioner, Right to Information, in response to an appeal filed by Ajay Bahl, a local resident.

Bahl had sought information about the provision of facilities for the people in the Mini-secretariat in Sector 12 here. He had also sought information about the measures in place for the sale of acid and the criteria for the selection of awardees on Independence Day.

The commission has issued a show-cause notice in the matter relating to the Independence Day awards, while it has ordered an inquiry into the delay in furnishing information about the facilities at the Mini-secretariat and the measures in place for the sale of acid. The RTI applications were filed on January 1, 2017; March 11, 2018; and May 17, 2018.

“A show-cause notice will be issued under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act to the State Public Information officer (SPIO)-cum-City Magistrate, Faridabad, asking him or her to show cause as to why penalty at the rate of Rs250 subject to the maximum of Rs25,000 for each day of delay in furnishing the information be not imposed upon,” reads the order. The SPIO has been directed to submit a reply to the show-cause notice by June 4, and be present during the next hearing on June 25.