The Hindu: Vijayawada: Saturday, September 20, 2014.
The
Information Commissioner will stay in Vijayawada three days a week to review
RTI queries
Information
Commissioner M. Vijaya Nirmala on Thursday warned officials and government
staff against neglecting the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
As part of
her three-day visit to the district, Ms. Vijaya Nirmala reviewed applications
received under RTI from 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh, seeking information
from various government departments.
She said
officials and staff at some places were found to be neglecting the issue.
Warning that it will not be tolerated, she said the erring persons would
attract stringent action.
Officials of
Medical and Health, Agriculture, Cooperative Societies, Registrations and other
wings were present at the meeting.
The
Information Commissioner said henceforth, she would stay put at Vijayawada
three days in a week (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and review applications
received under RTI by various departments in the 13 districts.
700 cases
reviewed:
Ms. Vijaya
Nirmala said over 700 cases were reviewed and orders had been given to recover
a sum of Rs. 4.5 lakh towards fine for negligence by officials in 18 cases, in
2014.
Penalty:
A penalty of
Rs. 50,000 had been slapped on Eluru Medical and Health Officer while in
Ongole, a fine of Rs. 25,000 each was imposed on four hospitals for violation
of stipulation norms.
Officials of
Kakinada Government Hospital in East Godavari district incurred her wrath for
‘failing’ to furnish information sought under RTI, despite repeated pleas.
Citing an
application filed by one B. Trimurthy, she said the latter had informed that
his father, B. Anjaneyulu, a resident of Rajahmundry, had died after he was
afflicted with HCV (Hepatitis V Virus). He had undergone dialysis for kidney
ailment under Arogyasri scheme at the Rajahmundry Government Hospital.
.JPG)
.JPG)
