Inquiry marked against APIO.

Hindustan Times: Ludhiana: Monday, May 21, 2012.

Taking action on a complaint against Monika Anand, assistant public information officer (APIO) in the municipal corporation, the state information commission has asked the director, local bodies, to initiate an inquiry in the case.

The complaint was filed by RTI activist Rohit

Sabharwal, in which he alleged that Anand, while replying to the applications, intentionally harassed the applicants by giving unwarranted replies so that they may not proceed with their applications.

Besides, instead of providing the information demanded by the applicant, she usually gave advices to them, he alleged.

Rohit had filed the complaint on April 24 and demanded action against the "erring" official.

The Supreme Court had once stated, "It is not required to provide advice or opinion to an applicant."

However, Rohit claimed that most of the times, Anand replied to the RTI with "her opinion and views that were not required and not the actual information that was demanded".

"Parliament passed the RTI Act, 2005, to facilitate the citizens. However, public servants such as Anand are intentionally violating the fundamental as well as the statutory right of the applicants by giving such vague replies. Hence, for her this act she should be held guilty under Section 166 of the IPC for disobeying law intentionally," stated the application filed by Rohit.