Times
of India: Thane: Monday, 23 February 2015.
The Konkan division state information commissioner
has slapped a fine of Rs 500 on the public relations officer and public information officer of Thane
Municipal Corporation (TMC) for the "hardships" that an applicant had
to undergo for obtaining information under the RTI Act.
While hearing an appeal challenging the information
furnished by TMC, state information commissioner (Konkan Divison) Thanksy
Thekkekara, asked TMC to pay fine of Rs 500 to RTI applicant from
Mumbra, Mohammed Yusuf Khan.
"Khan is handicapped. The TMC should pay of Rs 500 to the applicant as compensation
for the "hardships" he had to go through for procuring the
information," the order issued by Thekkekara said. The order was passed in
January 2015.
Khan alleged that a man from Mumbra was using RTI
to "blackmail" the handicapped stall owners in the region. "To
continue the fight against the blackmailer, I had approached the TMC. Under the
RTI, I asked the corporation to furnish details of applications received by
them seeking information about the stalls managed by disabled persons in
Mumbra. But, I was denied the information," Khan said.
"I challenged the TMC order. Partially convinced with the appeal, the Konkan
division office slapped a fine on the public information officer and public
relation officer of the civic body," he added.
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