Passport officer to pay Rs 25,000 for delay

[karira]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=450 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=news></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=450 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=news>The Central Information Commission (CIC) has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 - the maximum penalty under RTI Act 2005 - on a regional passport officer in Nagpur for delaying the information sought by an applicant.

The CIC slapped a penalty of Rs 250 per day for a period of 100 days on VB Kamble and directed her to pay the penalty in two equal instalments before July 7.

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>According to the commission's order, in case of any failure in payment of the penalty, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) could directly deduct the amount from the salary of the erring officer and remit to the CIC.

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>The applicant, Tasneem Hamza Zaki, had filed a request with the passport officer on November 21, 2005 seeking copies of certain documents attached to her passport application. When she did not receive any information within the stipulated period of one month, she approached the appellate authority on January 12, 2006. She was given a written assurance by the MEA that "appropriate action" would be taken by the passport officer. However, Kamble did not give any information despite repeated requests by Tasneem.

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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>Frustrated by the delay, Tasneem approached the commission, which after hearing her appeal, imposed a penalty on the defaulting officer under Section 20(1) of RTI Act 2005.

</TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD class=news vAlign=top colSpan=2>Accordingly, a show-cause notice was served to the officer last month. Kamble, however, pleaded that the applicant was satisfied with information and hence no penalty be imposed on her. But the CIC has made it clear that the desire of the applicant against penalising the officer cannot be germane reason for the commission to drop penalty proceedings against her.

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[maneesh]

Sponsorer

Does it means passport officers are among the highest penalized officers under RTI?