PSIC says: Loss of record is a serious matter. Legal action as may be deemed appropriate including registration of criminal case against the concerned

[sabharwal786]

PSIC says: Loss of record is a serious matter. Legal action as may be deemed appropriate including registration of criminal case against the concerned officials.

The Orders of the PSIC are as under:

AC- 1153 of 2011

We have gone through the record and findings of the inquiry Committee. It is observed that the record pertains to the ownership of Plot No.103-R, Industrial Area, Ludhiana. This record is of a permanent nature and therespondent has not shown any rules under which this record can be disposed ofor destroyed. The mere fact that therecord is old or that the dealings hands have retired is no valid ground toshut eyes to the loss of valuable record. Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 enjoins upon every public authority to maintain all its record duly catalogued and indexed in amanner and in a form, which facilitate the Right to Information as conferred onevery citizen by Section 3 of the Act ibid. Loss of record is a serious matter. Therefore, this Bench is constrained to direct the respondent in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section19(8) of the Act ibid to take such steps as may be necessary to secure therecord either by reconstructing it or by taking such legal action as may bedeemed appropriate including registration of criminal case against theconcerned officials. With this,direction, the present case is closed.