Express news service;Tuesday 3 May 2011,
Chandigarh : Sending a strong message to departments that forward RTI applications and forget about them, Punjab State Information Commission has lambasted the PIO of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) for shrugging off the responsibility after transferring a plea.
Commissioner Surinder Singh came down heavily upon the CMO PIO while hearing the case of Tara Singh from Patiala district, who had filed an RTI plea in January this year seeking an action taken report on his application dated August 28, 2010, addressed to Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, the chief minister, Punjab Human Rights Commission Chairman, Punjab Director General of Police and Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police. In his application, Tara Singh had sought necessary action against Mohali District Transport Officer Karan Singh.
On getting no response, he filed a complaint with the commission in March this year. Major Singh, deputy secretary-cum-PIO of the CMO, stated that the application was transferred to the Home Department, which further sent it to the DGP, with a copy to the CMO and the complainant.
He said the action was to be taken by the police department now, and the Chief Minister’s Office has already done its bit by forwarding the application.
However, the SIC said, “I strongly believe that simply forwarding an application to the department concerned is not enough on the part of the Chief Minister’s Office. It should have followed the application properly and sought a report from the public authority concerned.”
He issued notices to the CMO, Director General of Police and the Home Department and asked PIOs to appear in person on the next date of hearing along with the action taken report.
As per the directions, the respondents from all the offices last week appeared and made written submissions. Finally, the APIO of the office of Patiala SSP supplied the requisite information to the complainant and the case was disposed of.
.JPG)
.JPG)
