Mumbai University to pay compensation of 1 lakh for delaying information under RTI
11 Feb, 2013An application was filed with the Mumbai University under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking details about the agenda of academic council and management council of the University during the period 1995 to 2006.
The public information officer (PIO) of the university conveyed to the applicant that as the sought information was voluminous, he should pay Rs. 17,044/- to get the information on details of academic council and Rs. 63,480/- for information on details of management council.
Though the applicant submitted the required amount on April 13 and May 10, he did not get all the information till August 7, 2012.
The applicant, then, approached the State Chief Information Commissioner and demanded compensation for the delay under Section 19(8)(b) In its decision, the Central Information Commission or State Information Commission, as the case may be, has the power to require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered; of the RTI Act, which confers power on the State Information Commissioner to direct a public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss suffered.
The state CIC has ordered the Mumbai University to pay a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the complainant. He has also ordered the university to refund the amount submitted by the applicant and has issued notice to the PIO to explain as to why he shouldn’t be fined for delaying the information.