Tehsildar fined for delaying to provide info to RTI applicant

Business Standard: Mandi (HP): Monday, 08 September 2014.

The Himachal Pradesh State Information Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a revenue officer for delaying to provide information to an RTI applicant by over 100 days.

Ajay Prashar, tehsildar in Mandi's Sadar district, has been asked to deposit the fine of Rs 25,000, the maximum penalty under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, with the Government Treasury, according to HP's State Information Commissioner Bhim Singh's order.

Appellant Hari Singh, a resident of Ghoud village, had sought certain information from the office of Divisional Commissioner of Mandi under RTI Act in December, 2012.

The office supplied some information, and transferred the matter to the office of Tehsildar in Sadar.

After a prolonged delay, Singh approached the SIC saying he still had not been supplied information by Prashar.

The Divisional Commissioner Mandi recommended penal action against the tehsildar.