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| Authenticity of ration card questioned; SIC orders probe | | BPL RTI applicant denied free info | | Early Times Report
Bandipora, Nov 25: The District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) Bandipora who is also the designed Public Information Officer (PIO) under State RTI law has questioned authenticity of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration card of an RTI applicant thus denying him free of cost information. The matter had landed in State Information Commission (SIC) which has directed Tehsildar and Tehsil Supply Officer Bandipora to probe into the authenticity of the said ration card.
Details available with Early Times reveal that one Mudasir Nazir Wani R/O Ayatullah Bandipora on 13.03.2018 filed an application under J&K RTI Act 2009 with PIO/District Social Welfare Officer, (DSWO) Bandipora seeking information about beneficiaries of Marriage Assistance Scheme, Rehabilitation of Militancy Victims Scheme, Physically challenged person, Bal Ashram Scheme, Border Area Development Funds Scheme with details about the name of beneficiaries, payment to the beneficiaries from January 2011 to March 2018.
The PIO/ DSWO, Bandip-ora vide communicated dated 31.03.2018 asked the appellant to deposit an amount of Rs 5117 as copying fee for the information sought @ Rs 2/- per page. The appellant filed First Appeal with Director, Social Welfare Department, Kashmir on 01.05.2018 contending that since the appellant was a BPL person and had attached copy of BPL Ration Card with his RTI application, the PIO was supposed to provide the information to the appellant free of cost and therefore his communication dated 31.03.2018 asking the appellant to deposit an amount of Rs 5117/- was in violation of the provisions of the J&K RTI Act.
First Appeal was disposed of by FAA/ Director, Social Welfare Department, Kashm-ir vide order dated 18.05.2018 directing PIO/ DSWO to check/ authenticate the BPL/PHH Ration Card of the appellant and thereafter provide information free of cost to the appellant. In pursuance to the order of FAA, the PIO vide communication dated 26.05.2018 directed the appellant to provide the BPL/PHH Ration Card attested by issuing authorities viz-a-viz Tehsildar concerned, Block Development Officer concerned, Tehsil Social Welfare Officer concerned and Tehsil Supply Officer concerned.
The appeal came up for hearing before the SIC on 18.09.2018, wherein the PIO submitted that the applicant was directed to deposit a sum of Rs 5117 as Xerox charges for the information sought by him @ Rs 2/- per page. The appellant did not deposit the copying charges and instead filed First Appeal. The Said First Appeal was disposed of by the FAA with a direction to the PIO to verify the Ration Card of the appellant before providing information to him free of cost.
SIC in its order ruled that Tehsildar Bandipora and Tehsil Supply Officer, Bandipora are directed to furnish the report about the genuineness of the BPL Ration Card issued in favour of the appellant to the PIO/DSWO Bandipora within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of this order, copy whereof be marked to the SIC as well. The PIO shall presume that the copy of BPL Card furnished by the appellant is genuine and shall accordingly provide information free of cost to the appellant with a period of 15 days thereafter. Both the PIO and Tehsildar shall report compliance to the Commission within three weeks from the date of receipt of this order. |
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