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| Udhampur DC office makes mockery of RTI Act | | Naib Tehsildar responds, PIO sleeps | | Early Times Report
jammu, Sept 27: Making mockery of the Right to Information Act (RTI), the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Udhampur has authorized a Naib Tehsildar to respond to RTI applicants while the designated Public Information Officer (PIO) is nowhere in the picture, grossly violating the J&K RTI Act 2009.
Details available with Early Times reveal that vide RTI reply No: LA/ADC/746-49, dated 27.7. 2018, the Naib Tehsildar Land Acquisition section, DC office Udhampur, has responded to an RTI applicant who sought details of illegal land filling being done in Tawi nallah by a private construction company on Jammu-Srinagar National highway at Moudh village.
Instead of getting a response by designated PIO, that is, Additional DC (ADC) Udhampur, the Naib Tehsildar in DC office has allegedly submitted a vague response and addressed the same to Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) who is also the Assistant PIO (APIO) in DC Office. A copy of the letter has been sent to J&K RTI Movement through its chairman Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat. Feeling agitated the activist has now filed a complaint before State Information Commission (SIC)
"It is the PIO (ADC Udhampur) who has to respond to information seekers and not any other official. But in this case the letter is forwarded by Naib Tehsildar to ACR and a copy is sent to me. This is complete violation of RTI Act. Not only has the PIO violated the provisions of RTI Act, but even the information hasn't been provided. The ACR forwarded the letter to Tehsildar Chenani and Udhampur. Tehsildar Chenani forwarded the RTI application to Naib Tehsildar Chenani who forwarded the same to Patwari Mada and Chenani. The Patwari Mada said information does not pertain to him. Who is the custodian of the information? This is a matter of public interest as our environment is at stake especially Tawi river is under threat. This is all gross violation of RTI Act and officials are passing the buck," said Bhat.
As reported already ACR Budgam had also failed to respond to an information seeker when he sought copies of notifications issued under J&K Land Acquisition Act. After 25 days ACR told information seeker he is not the PIO. The case landed before the then CIC Khurshid Ganai who initiated disciplinary action against the officer.
RTI Movement in its complaint filed before the SIC has sought legal proceedings against the PIO (ADC Udhampur). In addition to it disciplinary action has been sought against other officers as well.
The complaint reads:
"Penalty proceedings may kindly be initiated against all the respondents as they have deliberately and wilfully denied and suppressed the information sought for. It is also prayed that an enquiry within the meaning of section 15 (2) of J&K RTI Act 2009 may kindly be initiated against all the respondents for wilful disobedience of RTI law. It is further prayed that disciplinary proceedings may kindly be directed to be initiated through State Chief Secretary against Deputy Commissioner Udhampur who appears to have lost administrative control over all his subordinate officers." |
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