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| RTI regarding kidnapping, forced induction into militancy | | SIC reprimands Addl Secretary Home | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 25: The State Information Commission (SIC) has taken a serious note of non disposal of a first appeal filed under J&K Right to Information Act (RTI) by one Riyaz-ul-Hassan Malik who had sought details about alleged kidnapping of a teenager from a Kishtwar village by militants who later forced him to join militant ranks.
The RTI was filed before Station House Officer (SHO) of Kishtwar last year and when the information was not provided to the RTI applicant he filed an appeal before the State Home Department and the Additional Secretary Home who is also the First Appellate Authority (FAA) of the Home Department. The Addl Secretary did not bother to dispose off the appeal and when the second appeal was filed in the SIC the erring Additional Secretary didn't turn up to attend the hearing on December 31, 2013. Disapproving the behavior of the said officer, the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) GR Sufi issued a warning note.
Ashok Kumar Sharma, Public Information Officer (PIO) cum Deputy Secretary Home Department attended the hearing at SIC Jammu office on Dec 31 while the Additional Secretary cum First Appellate Authority (FAA) Home Department did not attend inspite of a notice being served to him and no reasons were given by him for not complying the requirements of the law.
While reprimanding the Additional Secretary, SIC order read, "The Additional Secretary cum FAA being a senior officer is obliged to comply with the notice of the Commission. The Commission is vested with the powers of a Civil Judge while adjudicating a suit and hence all powers are vested in the Commission to enforce the attendance of any authority who has been issued any notice or summon by the commission. Therefore, FAA is advised that in future he should adhere to provisions of law".
The SIC order further read, "Nothing has been done by the FAA. Failure of FAA who happens to be a senior officer of one of the premier Ministries of J&K State i.e Home Ministry which is vested with the duties of maintaining law and order, protecting and ensuring security and sovereignty of citizens of the State. Unfortunately, there is even no attempt to explain reasons why such senior authority has failed to discharge his duties which are assigned to him under law. The Commission once again request the senior authorities to respect the law of the land and discharge their duties in accordance with the law". |
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