Penalty for delay in replying to a RTI application
27 Mar, 2012Background
The appellant sought the information regarding number of trees, peacocks, ponds inside the Akashwani office premises along with the details of the expenditure on maintenance of these. Further, the appellant asked about the implementation of section 4 of the RTI act by the department and the change in the venue of the office. The Public Information Officer (PIO) did not reply within the mandatory time period as prescribed under sub-section (1) of Section 7 of the RTI Act, 2005. On appeal, the First Appellate Authority (FAA) directed the PIO to provide the information within 15 days.
View of CIC
During the hearing, the Central Information Commission directed the PIO to furnish the complete information to the appellant and held the PIO guilty of not furnishing complete information within the specified time limit which attracts the penal provisions of Section 20 (1). The Commission issued a show cause notice to the PIO to show cause as to why penalty should not be levied on him.
Citation: Mr. Ashok Kumar Goel v Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Akashwani Bhawan in File No. CIC/SG/A/2012/000061
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/175
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