news details |
|
|
| Over 200 cases against erring officers dropped in two years | | SIC takes U-turn on its own penalty notices | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 25: As the State Information Commission (SIC) has been continuously issuing penalty notices against the erring Government officials especially the Public Information Officers (PIOs), the same Commission on the other hand is dropping the said penalty cases in very large numbers without even informing the aggrieved persons (RTI appellants).
Details available with Early Times reveal that in less than two years, (2012 to 2014) the State Information Commission (SIC) has dropped penalty notices against more than 95% of the Public Information Officers (PIO's). In all the cases penalty show cause notices had been issued by the State Information Commission which includes two Information Commissioners and one Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).
Out of these 221 dropped penalty cases, the SIC's Jammu office dropped 33 cases against various erring PIOs from 4.10.2012 to 31.01.2014. The Srinagar office of the commission has dropped 89 cases in almost two years ie from 07.03.2012 to 17.04.2014 and the central office which is on move with the durbar dropped 96 cases between 17.02.2012 and 18.12.2013. The details of dropped penalty cases pertaining to 2014 have not been put in public domain by the State Information Commission (SIC) through its official website.
"Two years back I had knocked the doors of State Information Commission (SIC) with the hope that erring officials especially the PIO of SKIMS would be penalized for not providing me the information sought under RTI Act. After filing a case with SIC, the PIO of SKIMS was put on penalty show cause notice by SIC, it was clear that the PIO deliberately had withheld the information related to MD examination. It became evident during the hearing that PIO had intentionally withheld the vital information which could have affected my career, I was sure that the PIO of SKIMS would have been penalized, but I am shocked to know that the penalty case against him has been revoked without my knowledge" said Dr Riyaz Ahmad Dagga while talking to Early Times.
Information seekers and RTI activists have urged upon the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Dr G R Sufi to look into this matter and ensure that before dropping any case of penalty against a Govt official / PIO the opposite party (RTI applicant / appellant) must be informed and his / her comments sought on the matter.
"The State Information Commission (SIC) has been constituted to ensure delivery of justice to the masses. If the SIC drops penalty cases against the Govt officials who have no respect for State RTI Act and that too without the knowledge of the aggrieved party, it sends wrong signals. We appeal CIC to look into this matter personally" said Dr Mushtaq Khan RTI Activist. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
