Information commission compensates four applicants with Rs 1.15 lakh

DNA: Mumbai: Friday, April 04, 2014.

The compensation was for the harassment they went through when the public authorities did not part with the information they had sought under the Right to Information Act.

The orders for the same were given on April 1, March 19 and 14. All the orders were given by state chief information commissioner, Ratnakar Gaikwad. Besides compensating, while giving its order on two applications, the commission has also ordered the public authorities that the fees taken by them from the RTI applicants to the tune of Rs 51, 752 and Rs 216 be returned to them.

The order gives reprieve to those who have been waiting for long to get information. The cases under which the orders were given range from public interest to those pertaining to a person not provided information that concerns him. While two applicants were given compensation of Rs 50,000 each, two others were given Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000.

While Raju Ahire, resident of Ghatkopar had sought information on the expenses from the maintenance department from his M / west ward (Chembur) office, Haidar Hussain Mohammed Tayeeb Sayeed, resident of Govandi wanted information to know the illegal rationing and ration card racket in the area. Nanadu Kapadia, resident of Princess street had some issues of his own that the authority was not addressing.

"I wanted information of expenses incurred while cleaning the septic tanks," said Hire. He had sought the information in 2011. However, despite three years, he was not given any information. Commenting that the public information officer and first appellate authority had displayed "spectacular irresponsibility" while not adhering to the RTI Act, the commission asked the ward office to not just give information but also asked the PIO why no action should be taken on him.

A similar remark was passed in case of Sayeed too. "There are many ration shops in our area and plenty with four ration cards to themselves. I had asked in Govandi my area how many ration cards are there and the documents given with them. Ration is sold in black in a big way on bogus ration cards," claimed Sayeed who runs an embroidery business.

In response he was asked to pay Rs 40,000 first and then another 12,000 in 2011. "They did not given me right information thought. In first appeal I was asked to seek ration office specific information," said Sayeed. However, when that too was not given, the commission directed that Rs 51,752 that he had paid should be returned with Rs 50,000 as compensation.

Nandu's case was about his neighbour who had broken a vital wall, because of which, the structure's stability was endangered. "I had filed two applications seeking inspection report on the numerous complaints I had filed. I had made several rounds to the corporation before that but they did not given me any information. The person had not just broken a vital wall in his premises but forcefully broke some flooring in my house too. I had filed complaints and wanted BMC to give me inspection report that they did not," alleged Kapadia. The commission directed that he be compensated by Rs 50,000 and Rs 10,000 for the same.