Daily Excelsior: Jammu: Thursday, 14Th August
2025.
In a series of scathing
orders, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has pulled up multiple
Government offices in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for stonewalling
Right to Information (RTI) requests, violating statutory timelines and failing
to attend hearings– a pattern that exposes deep-rooted non-compliance in the
Public Authorities.
In back-to-back rulings, the Central Information Commission has ordered multiple Public Information Officers (PIOs) to release long denied information, slapped them with show-cause notices and warned of suo moto penal action under the provisions of the Right to Information Act.
The rulings have been given in separate cases involving Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Mechanical and Hospital Engineering Department and the Crime Branch Headquarters.
In a first case, Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer Om Prakash sought copies of complaints, investigation reports and salary stoppage orders from the DC Kishtwar’s office. As only partial reply was furnished, the appellant knocked the doors of First Appellate Authority with the First Appeal but the same was not adjudicated compelling him to approach the Central Information Commission with Second Appeal.
While deciding the Second Appeal filed by the JKAS officer, the CIC directed the PIO, Chief Accounts Officer, DC Office Complex, Kishtwar, to supply the documents within three weeks, redacting any information which is expressly exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the RTI Act.
Another PIO, from the Assistant Commissioner Revenue’s office, was served a show-cause notice as he neither attended the hearing nor sent any response or suitable explanation about the absence from hearing. “This has led to willful obstruction in the dissemination of information and the hearing proceedings before the Commission being vitiated violating the provisions of the RTI Act”, the CIC said while directing the officer to submit an explanation as to why penal action should not be initiated against him for not attending the hearing without any justifiable explanation.
In the second case, one Junaid Nazir had sought detailed records of snow clearance vehicles purchased in 2022 and 2023, including registration details, fuel usage and logbooks of senior engineers. The Mechanical and Hospital Engineering Department never responded and the First Appeal was ignored.
The CIC, while deciding the Second Appeal, ordered the PIO to furnish a complete reply within 15 days and expressed severe displeasure over non-attendance of PIO.
“The PIO is directed to file a written explanation justifying the conduct failing which an action under Section 20(1) and 20(2) of the RTI Act will be initiated against him”, read the order of the CIC.
In the third case, complainant Ranjeet Singh Manhas was denied a copy of an enquiry report into his own complaint about a fraudulent Government appointment. The Crime Branch claimed exemption under Section 8(1)(h). However, the CIC ruled that the investigation was complete, making the exemption inapplicable. The PIO was directed to supply the report within four weeks, with sensitive portions redacted.
“The unexplained absence of respondent during the hearing has vitiated the proceedings as such he is directed to submit an explanation for willful violation of the provisions of the RTI Act failing which appropriate action shall be initiated in terms of law”, read the order of the CIC.
In all these cases, the Commission noted a common thread – delayed or denied information, non-adjudication of first appeals, and unexplained absence of PIOs from hearings despite prior notice. As per the experts this signals a culture of disregard for transparency laws in J&K.
In another case, the CIC has cautioned the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir to be prudent and vigilant while handling RTI queries and strictly adhere to the provisions of the Act ensuring that timeline and exemptions prescribed under the law are mandatorily complied with.
The note of caution has been issued to the varsity after the CIC noticed that PIO exceeded the requirement and even personal information related to third party was furnished to the applicant.
In back-to-back rulings, the Central Information Commission has ordered multiple Public Information Officers (PIOs) to release long denied information, slapped them with show-cause notices and warned of suo moto penal action under the provisions of the Right to Information Act.
The rulings have been given in separate cases involving Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner’s office, the Mechanical and Hospital Engineering Department and the Crime Branch Headquarters.
In a first case, Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer Om Prakash sought copies of complaints, investigation reports and salary stoppage orders from the DC Kishtwar’s office. As only partial reply was furnished, the appellant knocked the doors of First Appellate Authority with the First Appeal but the same was not adjudicated compelling him to approach the Central Information Commission with Second Appeal.
While deciding the Second Appeal filed by the JKAS officer, the CIC directed the PIO, Chief Accounts Officer, DC Office Complex, Kishtwar, to supply the documents within three weeks, redacting any information which is expressly exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the RTI Act.
Another PIO, from the Assistant Commissioner Revenue’s office, was served a show-cause notice as he neither attended the hearing nor sent any response or suitable explanation about the absence from hearing. “This has led to willful obstruction in the dissemination of information and the hearing proceedings before the Commission being vitiated violating the provisions of the RTI Act”, the CIC said while directing the officer to submit an explanation as to why penal action should not be initiated against him for not attending the hearing without any justifiable explanation.
In the second case, one Junaid Nazir had sought detailed records of snow clearance vehicles purchased in 2022 and 2023, including registration details, fuel usage and logbooks of senior engineers. The Mechanical and Hospital Engineering Department never responded and the First Appeal was ignored.
The CIC, while deciding the Second Appeal, ordered the PIO to furnish a complete reply within 15 days and expressed severe displeasure over non-attendance of PIO.
“The PIO is directed to file a written explanation justifying the conduct failing which an action under Section 20(1) and 20(2) of the RTI Act will be initiated against him”, read the order of the CIC.
In the third case, complainant Ranjeet Singh Manhas was denied a copy of an enquiry report into his own complaint about a fraudulent Government appointment. The Crime Branch claimed exemption under Section 8(1)(h). However, the CIC ruled that the investigation was complete, making the exemption inapplicable. The PIO was directed to supply the report within four weeks, with sensitive portions redacted.
“The unexplained absence of respondent during the hearing has vitiated the proceedings as such he is directed to submit an explanation for willful violation of the provisions of the RTI Act failing which appropriate action shall be initiated in terms of law”, read the order of the CIC.
In all these cases, the Commission noted a common thread – delayed or denied information, non-adjudication of first appeals, and unexplained absence of PIOs from hearings despite prior notice. As per the experts this signals a culture of disregard for transparency laws in J&K.
In another case, the CIC has cautioned the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) Kashmir to be prudent and vigilant while handling RTI queries and strictly adhere to the provisions of the Act ensuring that timeline and exemptions prescribed under the law are mandatorily complied with.
The note of caution has been issued to the varsity after the CIC noticed that PIO exceeded the requirement and even personal information related to third party was furnished to the applicant.
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