MC clerk suspended
Delay in providing information under the RTI Act
Puneet Pal Singh Gill
Tribune News ServiceLudhiana, March 26
The delay in providing information under the Right to Information Act to a local resident proved costly for a clerk posted in the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation who was suspended by MC Commissioner Malwinder Singh Jaggi today.
Parminder Singh, an RTI clerk in the health branch of the civic body, had remained absent from duty for the past two-three days without any intimation, which resulted in delay in providing the information.
Local lawyer Surinder Pal had sought information related to the functioning of Doggie Lanes, a company involved in the sterlisation of stray dogs. This information was sought on January 11.
It was the weekly hearing of the RTI Act cases in the office of MC Commissioner Malwinder Singh Jaggi today. RTI activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira had appeared before Jaggi on behalf of Surinder Pal.
“When Jaggi inquired about the related information, the officials told him that the information was with Parminder Singh, who is absent from duty,” claimed Khaira.
AS Sekhon confirmed that Parminder Singh was absent from duty for the past two-three days. “That also without intimating anyone in the MC. The information is with him and before proceeding on leave he didn’t even hand it to any other official, which resulted in this delay,” said Sekhon.