Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 2: State Information Commission (SIC) has directed Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) Pulwama to reveal details under RTI Act about the funds received under Swach Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G). The information was earlier denied to an information seeker who finally sought SIC's intervention.
Details available with Early Times reveal that an RTI application dated 22.06.2018 was filed by one Sheikh Ghulam Rasool seeking information from PIO/ACD Pulwama on seven points relating to funds received under SBM-G from Centre and State and allotment of the received funds to District Pulwama, Audit reports for four years, certified list of beneficiaries, details about funds received under IEC component along with its yearly expenditure, details about funds received for construction of sanitary complexes. In view of non-response of the PIO, the appellant filed subsequent appeals under the provisions of the J&K RTI Act.
When the appeal came up for hearing before the Commission on 25-02-2019, the commission observed that all BDOs of district Pulwama are working under the control of Assistant Commissioner (Development) Pulwama. They are representing the same public authority. Therefore, the transfer of RTI application under section 6 (3) of the J&K Right to Information Act, 2009 to the BDOs by ACD, Pulwama was wrong application of Section 6 (3). In case the information sought by the appellant was available with concerned Block Development Officers of the district, the ACD, Pulwama should have sought assistance of his subordinate BDOs under section 5 (4) of the Act.
Since the RTI application has been submitted to ACD, Pulwama, it was primarily the duty of ACD to collect the information from the BDOs under his control and thereafter furnish the same to the appellant. The hearing was adjourned. Assistant Commissioner (Development) Pulwama was directed to collect the information from all BDOs of the district and thereafter, furnish the same to the appellant within a period of two weeks from that day.
" In case the PIO fails to furnish hard copy of the information to the appellant within the aforesaid period, the appellant shall have the liberty of filing a complaint against the PIO " the commission ruled. |
