GIDC official pulled up for delay in providing information under RTI

[ganpat1956]

Panaji, Jan 1 The guardian of the Right to Information Act in Goa, the Goa State Information Commission has pulled up the chief general manager of the Goa Industrial Development Corporation for failing to provide information within the stipulated period of 30 days to its own employee.

In a recent order by the State Chief Information Commissioner, Mr A Venkataratnam and State Information Commissioner, Mr G G Kambli, the Commission expressed surprise and sadness that a statutory corporation of the state government gave incomplete and vague information to its own employee who is a regional manager with the corporation. “We shudder to think what will happen if any citizen approaches the Respondent No 1 for the same information,’’ the order reads. The respondent no 1 is the GIDC chief general manager, who is also the corporation’s public information officer.

The story dates back to June 7, 2006, when the GIDC Regional Manager, Mr Uday Rege, Honda Industrial Estate, applied for information to the GIDC public information officer (PIO) under the Right to Information. Among other things, he wanted know the powers, duties and facilities for the post of regional manager according to the GIDC policy. Getting no reply within the stipulated 30 days, he filed an appeal before the first appellate authority on July 17, 2006. While the appeal was pending, the PIO wrote to Mr Rege that part of the information sought by him did not fall under the RTI Act. But he did attempt to explain the duties, powers and facilities as requested by Mr Rege. Accordingly, the first appellate authority disposed off the appeal.

But Mr Rege approached the Goa State Information Commission stating that the PIO had “purposely delayed the information’’ and prayed that action be taken against both, the PIO and the appellate authority. He also prayed for the exact information.
After examining the case and the written submission from the GIDC PIO, the Commission decided to partly allow the appeal and directed the PIO to provide the correct information on duties, powers, facilities etc within a week from the date of the receipt of the order.

The Commission also directed to show cause why a penalty of Rs 250 per day for the delay should not be imposed on the GIDC Public Information Officer. The State Information Commissioner, Mr Kambli said the Commission has just received the GIDC reply and will decide on the matter shortly.

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