Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 28: The state information commission (SIC) has directed the managing director (MD) of state forest corporation (SFC) to provide an inventory of furniture which it lost in the 2014 floods in Srinagar.
The information was sought by an RTI activist, but it was denied and finally the case landed in SIC. A Sunjwan resident filed an application under RTI Act on September 15, 2015 with PIO in the office of SFC MD, seeking information about the files damaged in SFC head office in the September 2014 floods and damage caused to furniture and fixture along with their cost. He had also sought information about the COLA and 6th pay commission arrears.
The application was on September 19, 2015 forwarded by the PIO to various offices under section 5(4)(5) of RTI Act vide. As there was no response from the PIOs of these departments, the RTI activist filed first appeal before SFC MD A K Tickoo, who is the first appellate authority (FAA), on December 28, 2015.
The 1st appeal was decided by him on January 18, 2016, concluding that as per information provided by the PIO, information was still awaited from eight SFC offices. Accordingly, FAA had directed these offices to furnish the requisite information to the PIO by January 30, 2016. The PIO was directed to provide information received by him till date to the appellant.
Aggrieved by the order of FAA, 2nd appeal was filed by the appellant before SIC on April 22, 2016, stating that even after expiry of stipulated period of 30 days, no action had been taken for issuance of information by the PIO. The appeal also alleges that , FAA (MD SFC) issued information on the basis of improper and irrelevant facts, which is not compatible to the queries as sought under RTI application. He requested SIC that relevant information be provided to him.
The FAA said information could not be provided to the appellant within the stipulated period of 30 days as it was awaited from various offices. However, in compliance to the directions of FAA, information containing 67 leaves was provided to the appellant on January 30, 2016.
During proceedings on June 8, 2016, SIC directed SFC PIO to provide a copy of inventory of furniture and fixture of the head office lost in the floods and if no such inventory was available, an affidavit be filed before the commission.
Director Finance, SFC, was declared as deemed PIO in respect of information at points 3, 4 and 5 of the RTI application as per section 5(5) of the Act. Accordingly, he was asked to appear before SIC along with explanation for delay in providing information and produce relevant information as per records held by him or by his subordinate offices.
SIC order reads as: "Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Director Finance, and PIO A K Naik attended hearing at Srinagar office of the commission. The appellant was heard via video conferencing from SIC's Jammu office. SFC has provided inventory of furniture and fixture of the head office lost in the floods of September 2014.
Appellant admitted receipt of this information. From perusal of the information provided by Director Finance, it is evident that relevant information has been provided to the information seeker. Since he has not received a copy of the reply of director finance, he is directed to send its copy to the appellant through prescribed mode of service within one week of the receipt of this order." |
