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.