LIT to compensate for delaying info.

Times of India; Monday, August 8, 2011.

LUDHIANA: Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has been ordered to pay Rs 2,000 to a city based RTI activist, Arvind Sharma, for delaying the information under Right To Information Act. Arvind had sought information from LIT about the records of 161 measurement books but the officials did not provide him the info. Irked over the delay, Arvind filed a case with the state Information Commission but even this did not bother the LIT officials.

On July 12, the commission ordered the officers to submit an affidavit in the next hearing on August 4, explaining as to why the information was delayed. Arvind said he received an incomplete information on the evening of August 3. The officials mentioned in the reply that 100 measurement books are in store room while 61 of those are with junior engineers. Some of the these engineers have been transferred to other cities, they had added. Taking note of the carelessness of LIT, the commission ordered them to pay the compensation, Arvind added. The commission refused to consider LIT's affidavit that mentions the trust lacks adequate staff to handle RTI applications.