GP official fined for delaying info under RTI

Times of India: Mangalore: Monday, January 13, 2014.

An official of a gram panchayat in Dakshina Kannada district has been penalized for not furnishing information under RTI on time.

While the appellant was given wrong information initially, the official has cited shortage of staff as reason for the error. However, the State Information Commission imposed a penalty of Rs 5,000 on the officer. The commission has directed Neermarga gram panchayat secretary Bogamallanna to remit penalty of Rs 4,000 to the state government head of account and Rs 1,000 as compensation to appellant Prem Michel Crasta for delaying information.

Crasta had sought information under RTI provisions from the gram panchayat in March 2012. The respondent stated before the commission that the information sought by the appellant was furnished in June 2013. However, B Prakash Bhat, representative of the appellant, stated that the information furnished was incomplete. Later, the commission directed the respondent to provide revised information to the appellant free of cost. The commission noted the delay and directed respondent Bogamallanna to show cause within 30 days as to why action should not be taken against him under the provisions of the RTI Act.

The commission found the explanation of shortage of staff given by respondent unsatisfactory and imposed Rs 4,000 as penalty.

State information commissioner D Thangaraj directed Bogamallanna to send a demand draft for Rs 1,000 to Crasta for the loss and detriments suffered by him and submit a compliance report.