Village heads issued warrants

Times of India: Gurgaon: Wednesday, 03 December 2014.

Two village sarpanches have been served bailable warrants for not replying to information sought under RTI and for refusing to accept the state commission's notice asking for the reasons for the same.

Software engineer Sudhir Yadav had filed an RTI on August 5 asking for details of money used in development work of Khentawas and Siwadi in Gurgaon district as well as details of the unutilized money. Despite reminders, the sarpanches failed to reply and Yadav appealed before the state information commission in October.

The commission issued show cause notice on October 27 to both the sarpanches but they allegedly refused to receive the notice. Following this, the commission heard the appeal on November 17 and issued bailable warrants for the village heads.

"The note by the postman on the envelope is available on record. It is a clear cut defiance of the commission's show cause as well as the directions," said the order in reference to refusal of village heads to receive the commission's notice.

"As the sarpanches have failed to turn up to the showcause notice, bailable warrants will be issued against the sarpanches under the RTI Act," the order further reads.

The commission has now directed both the sarpanches to appear before it on December 19.