DNA: Mumbai: Saturday, September
24, 2016.
The state
information commission, which flayed the Brihanmumbai municipal commissioner's
office for treating an RTI application in a "casual manner", has
directed the civic chief to probe the matter.
The order was
given after an RTI application, which sought information on the complaint
against a deputy municipal commissioner, arrived at his office before being
forwarded to a junior official. The order, which was served on September 19,
was given after a second appeal filed by Kandivali resident Bhavesh Kalia.
Kalia had filed a complaint against deputy municipal commissioner Ashok Khaire
for threatening him and not taking action on the illegal encroachments by row
houses at Thakur Complex in Kandivli (East).
In his
application to the municipal commissioner's office, he sought a detailed report
from the department on his complain and with copy of action taken against the
deputy municipal commissioner (R/South ward).
Instead of
furnishing information, the application was sent to the public information
officer of the additional municipal commissioner's office. It was then
transferred to the PIO of deputy municipal commissioner's (DMC) office, western
suburbs. The PIO of DMC's office (western suburbs transferred it to DMC's zone
7's office, who then transferred it to the assistant municipal commissioner of
the R/south ward.
Noting that
the application was sent to the same person's office against whom the complaint
was made, the order by state chief information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad
stated that the conduct of municipal commissioner's office was
"laughable" and "serious". It stated that the application
was treated in a "casual manner".
Such
information, it stated, should have been put up on the public domain suo motu
as per section 4 (c) and (d), which states that all relevant facts while
formulating important policies or announcing the decisions which affect public
along with reasons for its administrative or quasi-judicial decisions to affected
persons should be put out on public domain.
When
contacted by dna, Kalia said that he had complained against rampant illegal
construction in the area. "A number of row houses that are supposed to be
for residential use, and has ground plus one floors, were changed to commercial
properties and turned into two to three storeyed structures without permission.
I had complained about them and instead of taking action, they told me to
settle the matter," alleged Kalia.
Kalia added,
"I was even threatened and hit a person. I have filed a police complaint and
have CCTV proof. I have even lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta.". When
contacted by dna, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta did not respond.
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