The Times of India: Chandigarh: Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
The Punjab State Information Commission has issued a bailable warrant against the public information officer (PIO) of Kapurthala municipal corporation after he failed to appear before it despite a show-cause notice and specific directions to attend a hearing in person in a Right to Information (RTI) Act case.
The order was passed by
state information commissioner Pooja Gupta while hearing a second appeal filed
by a Kapurthala resident seeking information from the civic body.
According to the commission's order, the appellant had filed an RTI application on Sept 11, 2023, seeking certain information from the corporation. During the hearing, he submitted that despite more than two years having elapsed, he had neither received a reply nor the information sought under the RTI Act. He urged the commission to direct the respondent PIO, an executive engineer (XEN) with the civic body, to comply with the law.
The commission noted that the PIO sought an adjournment through an email dated July 6, citing duty in connection with the municipal corporation's first House meeting-cum-oath ceremony on July 8.
It further observed that the officer had also failed to appear despite a show-cause notice issued through its May 12 order, which specifically directed him to appear before the commission in Chandigarh with a written reply to the RTI application. Despite being warned of coercive action, the officer remained absent, the order said.
Taking note of his absence, the commission issued a bailable warrant to secure the PIO's presence at the next hearing on Oct 7. It also directed him to comply with its May 12 order without delay.
The commission further observed that its earlier directions requiring the municipal corporation to prominently display the names, designations and contact details of the PIO and the first appellate authority in its offices had not been complied with.
It also directed that a copy of the order be forwarded to the Punjab director, local govt, with instructions to ensure compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act across all offices under the department's administrative control.
The Punjab State Information Commission has issued a bailable warrant against the public information officer (PIO) of Kapurthala municipal corporation after he failed to appear before it despite a show-cause notice and specific directions to attend a hearing in person in a Right to Information (RTI) Act case.
According to the commission's order, the appellant had filed an RTI application on Sept 11, 2023, seeking certain information from the corporation. During the hearing, he submitted that despite more than two years having elapsed, he had neither received a reply nor the information sought under the RTI Act. He urged the commission to direct the respondent PIO, an executive engineer (XEN) with the civic body, to comply with the law.
The commission noted that the PIO sought an adjournment through an email dated July 6, citing duty in connection with the municipal corporation's first House meeting-cum-oath ceremony on July 8.
It further observed that the officer had also failed to appear despite a show-cause notice issued through its May 12 order, which specifically directed him to appear before the commission in Chandigarh with a written reply to the RTI application. Despite being warned of coercive action, the officer remained absent, the order said.
Taking note of his absence, the commission issued a bailable warrant to secure the PIO's presence at the next hearing on Oct 7. It also directed him to comply with its May 12 order without delay.
The commission further observed that its earlier directions requiring the municipal corporation to prominently display the names, designations and contact details of the PIO and the first appellate authority in its offices had not been complied with.
It also directed that a copy of the order be forwarded to the Punjab director, local govt, with instructions to ensure compliance with Section 4 of the RTI Act across all offices under the department's administrative control.
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