The Times of India: Ahmedabad: Thursday, June 28, 2012.
Many a time basic information that should be provided by a government office to citizens regarding project works - housing, civic utilities, income schemes - are deliberately withheld for dubious reasons or simply for harassing an RTI applicant. In one such case, the Gujarat information commission, has taken a tough stance against a public authority and has even gone to the extent of imposing a heavy fine if the officer does not give a valid reason for the exceptional delay in parting with information.
Three years ago, applicant Mallika Sarabhai sought details of housing for the economically weaker sections ( EWS) in Ahmedabad by Ahmedabad Urban Development authority (AUDA). The information pertained to the Rs 500 crore JNNURM funds that were allotted for the construction of more than 20,000 houses for the poor. Sarabhai also sought details of the different heads under which JNNURM funds had been spent for the year 2009.
Apart from this, the application also sought details of the number of families that were allotted these houses and the time period within which the rest of the houses would be constructed. "The RTI sought details of the location of the one-room flats and the slum pockets where the houses were supposed to be allotted. The information was sought from AUDA in May 2009," said RTI activist Bharat Jhala.
After the case came before information commissioner Balwant Singh for hearing he said "Both officers were aware of the provisions of the RTI Act, and they ensured that the applicant does not get information," Singh said.
In a detailed order the commission has warned that if the information is not provided to the applicant within 15 days, both the officers will be imposed a fine under section 20 of the RTI Act and the same shall be mentioned in their respective service records.
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