Times of India: Nagpur: Monday, August 17, 2020.
The Central Information Commission
(CIC) has slammed the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) for a
delay of almost two years in replying to queries by an activist from city under
the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
On August 13, 2018, appellant Sanjay
Thul had sought information from the CBIC about sanctioned, required and actual
strength of SC/ST employees for the post of assistant commissioner. He had also
demanded a copy of the post-wise reservation roster for direct and promotional
postings.
The board’s central public information
officer (CPIO), however, replied to his queries almost two years later on
August 3 this year, against the norm of 30 days.
When CPIO failed to reply earlier,
Thul had filed first appeal with appellate authority, but even that wasn’t
disposed of forcing him to file second appeal with the CIC. He prayed to the
CIC for appropriate legal action against CPIO under Section 20 of RTI Act and
also directives to reply to his queries. The appellant further requested for
suo motu disclosure of reservation roster on board’s website.
“This commission observes that due
information, as available in records, has been provided to the appellant on
August 3 through a letter. However, there is inordinate delay in responding to
RTI application. Therefore, the CPIO is hereby issued a warning to be careful
in future and not to contravene Act’s provisions,” said commissioner Neeraj
Kumar Gupta.
He added the board is neither
reviewing CPIO’s appointment nor ensuring sufficient emphasis to compliance of
Act’s provisions. “The department of revenue’s additional secretary, being an
appointing authority, couldn’t appoint a suitable officer to hold CPIO’s
charge. Instead, the RTI portal continued in the name of JP Sharma, who has
been working as a consultant after retirement,” Gupta pointed out.
The commissioner advised the secretary
to review the board’s working. “The authority should consider updating the
reservation roster on its website as a part of voluntary disclosure,” he said.
CIC Speaks
There’s inordinate delay in responding
to RTI application filed in 2018
CPIO is warned to be careful & not
to contravene Act’s provisions in future
Board is not reviewing CPIO’s
appointment
Review board’s working and consider
updating reservation roster on website
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