Tiger census: Commission raps forest officers for not giving info under RTI

Times of India: Nagpur: Tuesday, 24 November 2015.

The state information commission (SIC), Nagpur Bench, rapped wildlife wing officials of the forest department for violating RTI Act by denying information to consumer rights activist Avinash Prabhune.

Prabhune on May 3, 2014, had filed an application seeking details about 'estimation exercise to count tiger, co-predator prey in Maharashtra from 2011-14.' The information sought included period, area, procedure, participants, funds sanctioned, expenditure incurred and results. The activist was not supplied information even by the appellate authority following which he moved the SIC.

Hearing the matter, information commissioner VD Patil confirmed violations of RTI Act provisions by assistant public information officer (APIO) and divisional forest officer (DFO) who was the appellate authority. SIC allowed the complaint filed by Prabhune.

After Prabhune did not receive any information, he had filed first appeal on June 28, 2014. However, the first appellate authority neither conducted a hearing nor passed any order although it was obligatory to do it in 30-45 days. Later, Prabhune filed the second appeal on September 13, 2014, before the SIC, Nagpur.

SIC issued order on February 13, 2015, and directed first appellate authority (DFO concerned) to conduct hearing and pass appropriate orders after hearing both the parties in 30 days. However, the DFO did not comply with this SIC order either. Thereafter, Prabhune filed a complaint under Section 18 of RTI Act July 23, 2015, before the SIC highlighting non-compliance by the DFO. The SIC issued notice and conducted a hearing on August 27, 2015, in the presence of Prabhune and PIO.

After hearing both parties and verifying documents, SIC confirmed violations of RTI Act provisions by wildlife wing officials. SIC directed them to conduct hearing in first appeal and to provide information in 15 days. The SIC also awarded compensation of Rs2,000 to Prabhune for mental and financial harassment. The forest officials have to comply with SIC order by December 30.