Early Times Report
Doda, Oct 7: The State Information Commission (SIC) has directed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Doda to allow inspection of documents under J&K RTI Act 2009 by an information seeker who had sought the details of Forest huts in Doda and chowkidars appointed for watch and ward of these huts . Information seeker alleges that information was not provided to him and after filing 1st appeal before Conservator Forests Doda , the case landed before J&K State Information Commission (SIC)
Details available with Early Times reveal that an RTI application filed by one Mushtaq Ahmed Naik R/O Shiva Doda on 21.08.2017 before the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Doda who is also the designated Public Information under State RTI Act. Information seeker sought details about total number of government huts in Doda Forest Division, persons living in those huts, number of Chowkidars appointed for watch and ward of these huts, details of audit inspection from 2012-17 and the details about audit conducted by Principal Accountant General in 2015 ordering recovery .
The PIO/DFO, Doda furnished reply to the appellant vide his communication No. 1946-48 dated: 12.09.2017. The appellant, however, filed First Appeal with Conservator of Forests, Chenab Circle Doda on 09.12.2017 submitting thereunder that no information has been provided to him by the PIO within the specified period. The First Appeal was disposed of by the Conservator Doda who is also the First Appellate Authority ( FAA ) on 08.01.2018 with the observation that the information stands provided to the appellant by the PIO.
However, the appellant filed Second Appeal before the State Information Commission (SIC) on 24.01.2018 (admitted on 13.06.2018) submitting that no information has been provided to him.
The SIC held: "After going through the documents submitted by the respondents, it is established that information has been provided to the appellant on 12.09.2017, well within the period specified under section 7(1) of the J&K 3 RTI Act, 2009. However, in respect of points (iv) and (vi) of the RTI application, the appellant was asked to have inspection of records, which opportunity the appellant has not so far availed. Since the appellant insists that he has not received the information sent through post on 12.09.2017, the PIO/DFO, Doda agreed to provide another copy of the information which was already furnished to him."
The appeal is disposed of with a direction to the PIO/DFO, Doda to resend the information to the appellant, which was already furnished to him on 12.09.2017, through registered post and also to facilitate inspection of records by the appellant in respect of points (iv) & (vi) of his RTI application dated: 21.08.2017. In this regard, the PIO/DFO, Doda would communicate a convenient date to the appellant well in advance and provide access to all records relating to information sought in para (iv) & (vi) of the RTI request. The appellant is also directed to avail the opportunity of inspection of records on the date as may be fixed for the said purpose mutually. |
