Info panel fines 3 Loharu MC officials for defying its order

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana information commission has fined three officials of the Loharu municipal committee (MC) in Bhiwani district for repeatedly defying its directions to provide information to an appellant and not appearing before it despite notices and bailable warrants.

Deciding on an application of a Bhiwani resident, Naresh Kumar, information commissioner Hemant Atri on Friday observed that the state public information officer (SPIO)-cumsecretary Sanjay Yadav of Loharu MC and two deemed SPIOs-cum-clerks, Surender Saini and Ashok, did no appear begore the panel despite notices, show-cause motices and bailable warrants issued on the previous hearings – May 8, June 30, August 1 and September 14 this year. Kumar had sought to know some details pertaining to his ancestral land in Loharu, about 17 months ago, but to no avail.

He held that it is clear from their attitude that they have nothing to offer in their defence and they have no commitment to effective implementation of the RTI Act. “This is in gross violation of provisions of the RTI Act, 2005. The SPIO, despite being present during the hearing on August 1, 2017, has not bothered to comply with the commission’s directions despite his own assurance for inspection.

Kumar on Friday informed the commission that he had visited the office of SPIO on August 3, 2017 and October 24, 2017 as per the directions passed by the commission for inspection of records, but the deemed SPIOs were not present for inspection of records and none of the orders passed by the commission were complied till date. He, thus, be suitably compensated for the harassment caused to him for the last more than 17 months, he added. Atri imposed a penalty of Rs 21,000 on Sanjay Yadav for not allowing inspection, furnishing information and non-compliance of the panel’s orders and a penalty of Rs 2,000 each on both clerks. Atri recommended an inquiry to the principal secretary, urban local bodies, to look into the delay in giving information and non-compliance of the commission’s orders.

ACTION COMES AFTER OFFICIALS FAIL TO APPEAR BEFORE PANEL OVER THEIR FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFO UNDER RTI ACT