RTI applicant gets compensation for being denied information

[bahl_ajay]

AS REPORTED ON ZEENEWS.COM

New Delhi, July 02: An RTI applicant has been awarded a compensation of Rs 10,000 by the Central Information Commission after the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment failed to locate a file containing the information sought by him.

Pulling up the Ministry for its failure to answer the query of F C Thomas, the CIC remarked that there was a lack of accountability on the part of the government.

"It is inferred that there is lack of existence of accountability mechanisms insofar as the implementation of RTI Act is concerned. In effect, there is lack of preparedness for providing information as per the provisions of the Act," Central Information Commissioner M M Ansari said.

"The secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is directed to arrange to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to the applicant before July 30," the Commission said.

The commission turned down the plea of the Ministry, which contended that information sought by the applicant pertains to 1952 hence it was not possible to locate the relevant files.

"If such explanation is accepted, how can an ordinary citizen realise his right to seek information from a public authority," Ansari said.

Every CPIO can take such a stand to deny related to government departments. Such attempts would indeed make a mockery of the RTI Act, the Commission said.

Bureau Report

[paawan]

Sir,
The State Information commission charges penalty @Rs.250/- per day to the accuse officer from his salary slips. The amount of penalty goes into which accounts?

[prbhat_gen]

bhal_ajay,

can i please have the hyperlink of this order/judgement.

Originally Posted by paawan

Sir,

The State Information commission charges penalty @Rs.250/- per day to the accuse officer from his salary slips. The amount of penalty goes into which accounts?

the penalty amount goes in the a/c of commission

[prbhat_gen]

i got the order/judgement no., i.e. CIC/MA/A/2008/00407 & CIC/MA/A/2008/00408

[taurus]

That is a good order.

[paawan]

Information commissioner cancels improper deal
AS reported by dinesh thite in D N A

A pio giving money to an applicant is unacceptable, says vijay kuvalekar

Sir
An improper agreement between a right to information (rti) applicant, a
public information officer (pio) and a appellate officer for payment of
expenses incurred on an rti appeal has been cancelled by the state
information commissioner vijay kuvalekar.
with regards