Times of India: Nagpur: Monday, May
16, 2016.
In what can
be termed as just unfortunate, seeking information under the Right to Information
(RTI) Act is becoming tougher. Earlier, public information officials used to
force applicants to run pillar to post. In latest case, first appellate
authority neglected hearing on appeal. The state information commissioner (SIC)
has taken serious cognisance and proposed disciplinary action on the first
appellate authority.
The case is
related to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). SIC Vasant Patil in
his order issued on May 2 also directed the MPCB to pay Rs3,000 to applicant
Kamlesh Shah for physical and mental stress. "Applicant should be paid
within 15 days from the salary of public information officer," he ordered.
Shah had
submitted an application dated April 10, 2014 with the MPCB seeking information
about his applications and action taken report on applications between 2012 and
2015. "I did not get information from public information officer within 30
days. I filed appeal with first appellate authority who did not hold a hearing.
I filed case with the SIC," he said.
Shah added
now it has become a routine for all government departments to neglect proper
information under RTI Act. "We have to go up to SIC in almost every
case."
Patil also
directed the MPCB public information officer to provide information up to 500
pages to the applicant free of cost within 15 days. "Public information
officer violated section 7 (1) of RTI Act. Why penalty should not be levied on
public information officer," he asked.
Patil also
directed the first appellate authority to submit reply within 30 days. "It
is a violation of section 19 (6) of RTI Act as first appellate authority did
not hold hearing. Why disciplinary action should not be taken against first
appellate authority as per section 19 (8) of RTI Act and circular of the
state's general administration department dated June 10, 2008," he said.
Shah said
that it was very unfortunate that information about details and status of his
RTI applications not were given by the MPCB despite it being a very easy task.
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