GU registrar penalised again

[karira]

As reported by Rahul Mangaonkar of TNN in timesofindia.indiatimes.com on 23 September 2008:
GU registrar penalised again-Ahmedabad-Cities-The Times of India

GU registrar penalised again

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat University registrar has drawn yet another penalty of Rs 25,000 from Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) for failing to provide information sought under Right To Information (RTI).

This is the third penalty slapped on the registrar in a month. The registrar, who is the public information officer (PIO) of GU, will now have to cough up a total of Rs 60,000 as penalties. Chairman of Sanskar Education Trust in Waghodia Pradeep Jaiswal had sought information under RTI regarding money deposited with GU by different colleges run by the trust.

Jaiswal sought information on the principal amount of deposits, the interest accrued on it and the total amount of deposit till now.

Jaiswal also gave details of deposits of Rs 14 lakh made by the trust-run arts and Commerce College, Rs 8 lakh by science college, Rs 18 lakh by pharmacy college and Rs 12 lakh by BCA college.

In his complaint before GIC, Jaiswal submitted that after making the RTI application, he had met the registrar twice, asking him to expedite the process of providing information. But, till date it has not been provided.

Before GIC, the registrar, however, submitted that information as sought by Jaiswal had been provided to him. The registrar stated that the lapse was due to heavy work load as the students’ exams had begun. Also, as there were many colleges whose deposits are with GU, which requires time to trace the records.

GIC held that none of the grounds relied upon by the PIO in seeking that penal provisions to be waived off as reasonable or justifiable for furnishing information eight months after the application was made. As the information related to only the accounts department.

GIC has warned that any further breach in discharging his obligations would result in ordering of disciplinary inquiry and proceedings as per service rules

Holding it a fit case for imposing maximum penalty, GIC ordered that the amount of Rs 25,000 had to be paid in two equal installments either from the registrar’s personal resources or to be recovered from his salary.

Observing the persistent failure of the registrar in discharging his obligations under RTI Act, following the earlier two penalties in the month, GIC also has warned that any further breach in discharging his obligations would result in ordering of disciplinary inquiry and proceedings as per service rules.