The Manipur Information Commission (MIC) has imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) of Wangoi Municipal Council, Imphal West, for delay in providing complete and certified information in response to an RTI application dated October 14, 2020.
The MIC directed the SPIO to furnish the left out and certified copy of the information sought by the appellant within three weeks.
The Penalty as prescribed under section 20 (2) of the RTI Act, 2005 may be imposed on the SPIO if he failed to follow the commission directive, stated the commission's order issued by the state CIC O Sunil on June 7.
It stated that the imposed penalty amount should be deposited in the form of challan under Major Head of Account-0070-Other Administrative Services within 15 days from the receipt of this decision, through the Sub Treasury Office, Wangoi.
It is reported that the appellant filed his RTI application on October 14, 2020. On failing to provide the sought information by the SPIO, he made his first appeal to the DC of Imphal West on November 21, 2020 and made his second appeal to the commission on January 18, 2021.
As per the commission's order, the SPIO refused to receive a summon of the commission which was sent by speed post whereas the DC of Imphal West directed the SPIO to provide the information to the appellant.
During the hearing of the case, the appellant submitted that he received uncertified information in respect of four queries and information on three other queries are yet to be provided.
Considering the fact that the SPIO has failed to provide complete and certified information to the appellant without any reasonable ground or submission of his written explanation to the show cause notice sent by the commission, the commission had issued the above order.
It stated that the SPIO violated the provision of section 7 (1) of the RTI Act, 2005.
The commission also stated that the appellant can approach the commission again in case of any grievances on or before the next hearing which falls on August 1.
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