Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 4: The State Information Commission (SIC) has directed the Deputy Commissioner Ramban to make voluntary disclosure of information about the various works executed by Rural Development Department under different centrally sponsored schemes. The SIC issued this order while hearing an appeal against the Block Development Officer (BDO) Assar district Ramban recently.
Details available with Early Times reveal that a complaint was filed under section 15 of JK RTI Act 2009 by one Chain Singh a resident of Chakka Kundi village Ramban with a request to the Commission that necessary action be taken against the negligent Rural Development Officers for not providing him the information.
Chain Singh had filed an RTI application on 24.02.2015 received in the BDO office on 27.02.2015 seeking detailed information about BRGF, IAY, MGNREGA, Plan and Non Plan works and sanctioned amount, expenditure detail, invoice etc for the year 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2014-15. The PIO sent a requisition to the applicant to deposit Rs. 1500/- for copying charges of the information asked as laid down in the Act. The requisition was sent through registered post. As the complainant didn't respond to this requisition, therefore, PIO didn't take any further action which is in accordance with the RTI Act.
The complainant filed a complaint under section 15 before the State Information Commission (SIC) , complaining therein that no information was given to him. However, he conveniently concealed the fact that as per provisions of the J&K RTI Act, 2009 he was asked to make payment for coping charges. He did not made any response to this requisition of the PIO.
SIC order reads:"As the PIO's action is technically correct and is in order with the provisions of the law, therefore, no cognizance is taken of the complaint. The PIO has taken an action and given response to the appellant,within 30 days of the filing of the RTI, which is the essence of this Act. The Commission has gone through the nature of information and found that the information asked is all about BRGF, IAY, MGNREGA, Plan & Non-Plan works plus Sanctioned amount, expenditure detail, invoice etc. for the year 2011-12- , 2012- 13, 2014-15. Notwithstanding the correctness of the PIO's order, this type of information has to be voluntarily disclosed by the public authorities in view of section 4 of J&K RTI Act, 2009 and this was to be done within 120 days from the enactment of this Act. The RTI Act has been enacted in the State of J&K in March, 2009. This is unfortunate that the public authorities who are obliged with the duty of upholding and implementing the law of land have conveniently forgotten to follow the law of land i.e. J&K Right to Information Act, 2009. The Deputy Commissioner, Ramban is directed to take all necessary action in ensuring that provisions of section 4 are strictly implemented by all the authorities working under him in his territorial jurisdiction. With these observations the Complaint filed before the Commission is disposed of" |
