PIO penalised for not appearing for hearing

Ludhiana, August 11

As the public information officer (PIO) of the MC Zone A did not provide required information to the appellant and failed to appear during the hearing, the State Information Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 on the officer concerned. The penalty amount is to be deducted from the PIO’s salary.

Earlier, RTI activist Rohit Sabharwal had filed a complaint and when he sought information regarding the same, the PIO did not give the required information. Later, Sabharwal filed an appeal before the commission.

As per the orders of the station information commissioner (SIC), the PIO had not come to attend the hearing through videoconferencing and also did not send any official to attend the hearing on his behalf. The Bench observed that it was the fifth consecutive hearing in the case. Neither any information has been given to the appellant nor any reply to the show-cause notice has been given by the PIO. The Bench also observed that the PIO was adopting a casual approach towards the directions of the commission and even did not bother to attend the hearing in person. As per the orders, the drawing and disbursing officer concerned is directed to deduct the amount of penalty from the salary of the PIO and deposit the same in he state treasury.

The PIO has been directed to provide complete information to the appellant and file a reply to the show-cause notice and send the documentary evidence for depositing the penalty amount in treasury before the next date of hearing. He has also been told to come in person on September 14, next date of hearing. — TNS