PSIC directed to Department of Industries, Punjab, Chandigarh to pay compensation of Rs. 5000/- to appellate & initiate disciplinary proceedings again

[sabharwal786]

PSIC directed to Departmentof Industries, Punjab, Chandigarh to pay compensation of Rs. 5000/- toappellate & initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officer(s) foundguilty in providing the highly delayed information

The Orders of the PSIC are as below :

AC No. 978/11

Taking the overall view of the matter, the Commission is of the view that though complete information as per records has been provided to the appellant but also, there is no denying the fact that much delay too has been caused in the process. Therefore, in terms of the powers conferred on the Commission under Section 19(8)(b) of the RTI Act, 2005, it shall be in the interest of justice if a compensation amounting to Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand Only) is awarded in favour of the appellant Sh. R.S. Mahey, which is directed to be paid to him by the Public Authority namely Department of Industries, Punjab, Chandigarh, within a month’s time against acknowledgment and an attested copy of the acknowledgment so obtained be produced before the Commission for records.

Further, Principal Secretary to Govt. of Punjab, Department of Industries shall initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officer(s) found guilty in providing the highly delayed information, as late as 23.11.2011 while the RTI applications are dated 09.06.2011 / 14.06.2011, in terms of Section 20(2) of the RTI Act, 2005 which provides as under: -