Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 8 : In the maiden case of its kind in J&K , the State Information Commission (SIC) has directed the Block Development Officer (BDO) Kishtwar to refund an amount of Rs 3500 to an RTI applicant who was asked to pay the amount as photocopying fee. The SIC observed that the information provided consisted of mere one page while the information seeker was wrongfully asked to pay Rs. 3500. As per details available one Shadi Lal, S/O Shri Bhagat Ram, R/O Lotna (Upper Palmwar), Tehsil Kishtwar, District Kishtwar moved an application dated 19. 09. 2013 under Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009 before the PIO/Block Development Officer, Kishtwar whereunder he sought certain information about total expenditure incurred in Panchayat Upper Palmar, Tehsil Kishtwar during the year 2012-13. The PIO/Block Development Officer, Kishtwar directed the appellant vide letter No. BDOK/1052-54 dated 27.09.2013 to deposit an amount of Rs.3500/- on account of photostat charges. The appellant accordingly deposited the demanded amount of Rs.3500/-in the official account No.15177 of B. D. O., Kishtwar. Despite of depositing the cost of information, the appellant was not provided the requisite information and as such feeling aggrieved of inaction on the part of PIO/Block Development Officer, Kishtwar, the appellant preferred first appeal before the Director, Rural Development Department, Jammu which was disposed of vide Order No. DRDJ/RTI/2014/27/21233-37dated 31.01.2014 with the observations that appeal made on 30.01.2014 is not maintainable under J&K Right to Information Act 2009 being time barred, hence rejected. Feeling aggrieved of the aforesaid order, the appellant preferred second appeal dated 24.02.2014 before the State Information Commission (SIC) alleging therein that the PIO/Block Development Officer, Kishtwar has deliberately and intentionally denied the information sought by the appellant. After receiving second appeal, the matter was listed for hearing before the Commission on 26.03.2014.
The PIO/Block Development Officer, Kishtwar could not cause his appearance before the Commission, as he has been put on duty in Lok Sabha Elections and as such could not leave the station. The matter was again listed for hearing on 29.04.2014 before the Commission. SIC ruled that as the information comprises of only one page, the PIO/Block Development
Officer, Kishtwar is hereby directed to refund the amount of Rs.3500/- which was deposited in the official account No.15177 of B.D.O.Kishtwar in J&K Bank Ltd; Dul Husti, Kishtwar within one week from the date of receipt of this order because the office of Block Development Officer, Kishtwar has not incurred any expenditure in furnishing the information to the information seeker. |
