The Hindu: Kalaburagi: Sunday,
February 1, 2026.
State Information
Commissioner for Kalaburagi Bench B. Venkat Singh said the Karnataka
Information Commission (KIC) in Kalaburagi had taken up 992 Right To
Information (RTI) cases for hearing since he assumed charge in October, 2025,
and disposed of 400 of them.
Addressing reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Singh said that the KIC Kalaburagi Bench had heard 992 RTI cases between November 2025 and January 2026 and disposed of 400 cases, and 592 cases were adjourned.
He highlighted that the Bench had prioritised decade-old cases, taking up 357 matters pending between 2010 and 2022 and disposing of 282 of them, underscoring the commission’s commitment to speedy disposal of long-pending RTI appeals.
He added that 882 cases heard by the previous Commissioner were still pending for final orders and would be cleared by the end of March, 2026. At present, a total of 6,691 cases were pending before the Kalaburagi Bench.
Mr. Singh clarified that from February 1, second appeals under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, which were earlier received only at the commission’s Bengaluru headquarters, would now be directly accepted and heard at the Kalaburagi Bench.
Penalties imposed
The commission has also imposed penalties totalling ₹65,000 on three panchayat development officers for failing to furnish information despite repeated directions.
In two cases, fines of ₹25,000 each were imposed on Nagabhushan, then panchayat development officer of Sunkeshwar Gram Panchayat in Manvi taluk of Raichur district, for not providing information related to grants under the 15th Finance Commission to two applicants.
In another case, a penalty of ₹15,000 was imposed on Bhagavantharaya Mardi, panchayat development officer of Adki Gram Panchayat in Sedam taluk of Kalaburagi district, for failing to provide information and for remaining absent during hearings despite prior warnings.
Mr. Singh said the commission had also begun recovering penalties from defaulting officers.
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| State Information Commissioner for Kalaburagi Bench B. Venkat Singh addressing press conference in Kalaburagi on Saturday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI |
Addressing reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Singh said that the KIC Kalaburagi Bench had heard 992 RTI cases between November 2025 and January 2026 and disposed of 400 cases, and 592 cases were adjourned.
He highlighted that the Bench had prioritised decade-old cases, taking up 357 matters pending between 2010 and 2022 and disposing of 282 of them, underscoring the commission’s commitment to speedy disposal of long-pending RTI appeals.
He added that 882 cases heard by the previous Commissioner were still pending for final orders and would be cleared by the end of March, 2026. At present, a total of 6,691 cases were pending before the Kalaburagi Bench.
Mr. Singh clarified that from February 1, second appeals under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, which were earlier received only at the commission’s Bengaluru headquarters, would now be directly accepted and heard at the Kalaburagi Bench.
Penalties imposed
The commission has also imposed penalties totalling ₹65,000 on three panchayat development officers for failing to furnish information despite repeated directions.
In two cases, fines of ₹25,000 each were imposed on Nagabhushan, then panchayat development officer of Sunkeshwar Gram Panchayat in Manvi taluk of Raichur district, for not providing information related to grants under the 15th Finance Commission to two applicants.
In another case, a penalty of ₹15,000 was imposed on Bhagavantharaya Mardi, panchayat development officer of Adki Gram Panchayat in Sedam taluk of Kalaburagi district, for failing to provide information and for remaining absent during hearings despite prior warnings.
Mr. Singh said the commission had also begun recovering penalties from defaulting officers.
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