Consumer Redressal Forum grants compensation to a RTI applicant
19 Nov, 2012The District Consumer Redressal Forum of Pune has ordered the Directorate of Technical Education Department (DTED) to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 for a delay in providing information to an applicant who filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
A former employee of the Institute of Technology run by the Deccan Education Society (DES), Kakade, had filed an application under the RTI Act seeking information pertaining to out of turn promotions granted of some of his colleagues. No information was provided to him and he filed the first appeal. Thereafter, Kakade filed an application with the Consumer Redressal Forum and claimed damages under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
The Consumer Redressal Forum President Anjali Deshmukh and Member S K Kapase directed that the information be provided to him within six weeks free of cost. Further, for causing physical and mental harassment to applicant, the forum directed to provide the compensation.
With the rising pendency at the level of Information Commission, more and more RTI applicants are likely to use the channel of Consumer Protection Forum instead of filing a second appeal before the Information Commission. Readers may refer to the article for synergy between RTI Act and CPA. http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/additional-remedy-rti-applicants-under-consumer-pr-2642