Notice to ULC dept for not giving RTI info

Times of India: Nagpur: Monday, 24 August 2015.

Norms say information sought under Right To Information (RTI) Act is to be provided within 30 days of receiving the application. However, RTI activist TH Naidu is yet to get information he had sought over a year ago. The information is awaited despite state information commission's (SIC) orders which were passed six months ago.

Taking cognisance of RTI Act's violations, state information commissioner, Nagpur bench, Vasant Patil has issued show-cause notice to Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) department coming under the district administration's jurisdiction and asked why a penalty of Rs25,000 should not be slapped on public information officer of ULC department.

"Public Information Officer did not reply to RTI application within stipulated time period. First appellate authority had directed the officer to provide information within seven days. Still information was not provided totally. State information commission on February 13 directed the first appellate authority to ensure information is provided within 30 days. Information is yet to be provided. Public information officer has intentionally violated the norms," Patil said.

Through his order dated July 6, Patil has directed the public information officer to provide complete information within 15 days since receiving the order. Information has not been provided as on date despite the SIC's second order.

"I had submitted application under RTI Act seeking five-point information related to ULC surplus lands on August 19, 2014. No reply was given within 30 days, so I went for first appeal. I filed an appeal with the SIC who delivered order on February 13. Then I went for second appeal with the SIC. Government departments even neglect the SIC's orders which is very unfortunate," Naidu said.

Naidu added similar types of dilly-dally tactics have been followed by other government departments. "It took two years for me to prove Court of Wards also falls under district administration which comes under RTI ambit. Government departments are not providing information within 30 days and forcing activists to go for appeals etc. Situation is common man is far behind thinking," he said.