DNA:
Mumbai: Wednesday, 19 August 2015.
After dna
reported the case of a public information officer by harassing an applicant by
asking him to repair a computer in order to receive information, another
applicant was recently threatened with "harassment and action against
him" if he approached the state information commission on being denied information.
Amar
Panhalkar, a resident of Kandivali, was threatened after he claimed that the
information provided to him was not satisfactory. As per an order passed by
state chief information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on Monday, Panhalkar had
sought information related to cleanliness in his area.
The
information sought was regarding over 20-feet wide roads between Gautam Nagar
and Azad Wadi. Panhalkar took the Right to information Act route to seek
information on action taken by the junior overseer, other officers and the
agency appointed to clean the road.
However, the
applicant found the information provided insufficient. During the first appeal
stage, the first appellate authority ordered that information be provided. When
the applicant was not satisfied with the data he followed up on it. It was then
that the public information officer threatened him with "harassment, and
action against him" if he approached the information commission.
The
commission observed in the order that despite repeated grievances and
complaints over cleanliness no action was taken.
The order
cited that the circular issued by the state government and the BMC Act makes it
mandatory on an officer to provide time-bound information. Taking a strong view
of the case, the commission slapped a show-cause notice asking why no action
must be taken on the PIO.
It also asked
the municipal commissioner to conduct an inquiry and fix responsibility in the
case. When contacted, Ajoy Mehta, commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation, was not available for comment.
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