Sarpanches in the dock for denying info under RTI.

The Hindu : New Delhi: Friday, November 28, 2014;

The State Information Commission (SIC), Haryana, has directed issuance of bailable warrants against the sarpanches of two villages for refusing information under the Right to Information Act and not replying to show-cause notices issued by the commission.

The orders have been issued against the sarpanches of Siwadi and Khetawas villages.

Farruk Nagar-resident Mr. Yadav, an IT manager in a company in Gurgaon, was visiting Siwadi village when he decided to speak to the village sarpanch regarding the bad condition of the roads. “I tried to speak to the sarpanch, but he was not willing to discuss the matter. I then decided to seek information under the RTI, but the sarpanch sitting in the Panchayat Bhawan refused to accept it. I returned home and sent my RTI application via Speed Post on August 5, but the sarpanch, who is also the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) still refused to accept it,” said Mr. Yadav speaking to The Hindu.

He then filed a complaint to the SIC and on October 27, the SIC issued a show-cause notice which the SPIO refused to accept. The SIC on November 17 issued bailable warrant against the sarpanch. “The Commission perused the case file and found that the show-cause notice issued by the Commission on 27.10.2014 was refused to be received by the SPIO-cum-sarpanch, Village Siwadi. The note by the postman on the envelope is available on record. It is a clear-cut defiance of the Commission’s show-cause notice as well as directions,” the SIC order read.