Sumit Sharma
Jammu, Nov 26: State Information Commission, issued warning to Director School Education (DSE) and penalty notice to Joint Director, Directorate of School Education, Jammu for displaying non seriousness to the notice of Commission served upon them.
The show cause notice that why fine shall not be imposed upon Joint Director who happens to be the PIO under RTI Act for his failure to appear before the Commission on different dates of hearing despite proper notice served by SIC. The Commission also issued warning to the Director School Education to remain careful in future.
The penalty and warning came to effective when Kovid Khosla , an advocate, filed RTI query to the Education Department seeking information including details of Central and State Governments aided schools in entire Jammu district ,details of fee structure, deployment of total number of teachers ,number of middle and high schools which are running without science laboratories, libraries, computer labs, playgrounds, electricity and furniture. The information seeker also sought information of complaints lodged against private schools in the years 2011, 12 and 2013.
The PIO, DSE Jammu vide office letter no DSEJ/RTI/2012/5493-04 transferred the RTI application of the applicant to the PIO,CEO Jammu, Doda, Kathua, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, Reasi, Rajouri, Samba and Udhampur. After receiving incomplete information the information seeker preferred 1st appeal before the FAA/DSE,Jammu which was not adjudicated and disposed of. Feeling aggrieved, the applicant filed 2nd appeal before Commission and accordingly notice vide No SIC/J/A/179/2013/3025-34 were served to all the concerned PIOs, CEOs to provide information to the information seeker. The notice was also served to the PIO DSE to attend hearing but the PIO DSE did not attend the hearing. The Commission again served notice to him to attend the hearing and again the Commission's notice was sidelined by the PIO DSE. Acting tough, SIC issued penalty notice to the PIO DSE. Regarding non seriousness of DSE the Commission observed, "the FAA being a quasi judicial authority is under a statutory obligation to dispose of RTI matter with in the statutory period after providing an opportunity of being heard to the parties; however, the FAA/DSE violated the important fundamental right of citizen.The Commission warned DSE to be careful in future." |
