ET Report
srinagar, Nov 28: As the documents related to conduct of inquiry in connection with the alleged molestation of a class 8 girl student by a headmaster in a Wakf Board-run school at Bandipora, are said to have been misplaced, State Information Commission (SIC) has now asked the Board Vice-Chairman to conduct an inquiry into the alleged incident, describing it as of serious nature.
Details available with Early Times reveal that Mehrajudin Kak of Firdousabad, Batamaloo, in Srinagar filed a second appeal before SIC on September 28, wherein he submitted that he had filed an application under RTI Act addressed to PIO - J&K Muslim Wakf Board, Srinagar, on June 29, 2015.
He alleged that though some information was provided by the PIO, it was either incomplete or concocted and not based on facts. This prompted him to file the first appeal before the First Appellate Authority (FAA), requesting him to provide the requisite information based on facts and records. The copy of the appeal was sent to the vice-chairman through speed post on August 29, 2015. That despite lapse of more than two months , FAA did not dispose of the first appeal as a result of which he approached SIC to look into the matter by filing 2nd appeal before it. He requested the commission to direct the PIO and the FAA to provide him the requisite information, besides taking action against them as per the Act.
The RTI application was filed by him on June 19, 2015 before Wakf Board, Srinagar, and was responded by PIO Syed Mohammad Yousuf on August 12, 2015, enclosing information comprising of 21 leaves. Further, as per provisions of Sub Section 6 of Section 7 of the J&K RTI Act, 2009, the information was provided free of cost as there was a delay of more than 30 days.
The appellant and the PIO were heard by SIC on October 27, 2015 and information provided by PIO to appellant were perused by the commission. The appellant submitted he had substantiated allegation of incomplete, concocted information in his first appeal. The commission perused the queries raised by the appellant.
The appellant had sought status of report of complaint with regard to molestation of a class 8 girl student pending against then Headmaster of Middle School, Aham Sharief, Bandipora. As per the information given by the board's section officer vide the August 12, 2015 letter, the SO said his office had no record/documentary proof about the case. This was communicated to the appellant by the PIO on the same date.
SIC order reads: "The Commission is of the view that this is a serious allegation which cannot be ignored merely, because SO has stated that record/documentary proof about the case is not available. Accordingly, the Commission deems it proper to request the Board's Vice-Chairman to enquire into the matter. He is also requested to seek the assistance of the appellant, who has worked in the Wakf Board for a period of five years and during whose tenure this incident reportedly occurred. As per the records, the First appeal has been filed before the Public Authority i.e., Vice Chairman, J&K Muslim Wakf Board, Srinagar. As per the Act, the appeal has to be filed before FAA, who as per the Act is the officer Senior to the PIO.
In this connection, the vice-chairman is requested to appoint/designate FAA so that information seekers are able to file first appeal before the designated FAA. With the above directions, the appeal filed before it is disposed of, SIC said. |
