RTI violation proves costly for 120 PIOs

The Central Information Commission in India has penalised over 120 public information officers (PIOs) for not providing information under Right to Information Act of 2005.

Published on 04/15/2008 - 15:02:00 PM

New Delhi: The Central Information Commission (CIC) in IndiaÂ has penalised over 120 public information officers (PIOs) for not providing information under Right to Information Act of 2005, imposing a penalty amounting Rs 13 lakh until March 2008.

Disclosing this at the seminar on Right to Information Act 2005 organised byÂ Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (Assocham), the Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat HabibullahÂ stated that over Rs 5 lakh penalty has been recovered of the guilty PIOs out of the total imposed penalty.

HeÂ clarified that the full penaltyÂ could not be recovered as more than 100 PIOs, accused of not providing information under the Act, have moved various courts against the CIC orders.

Habibullah said that the Commission would become more proactive to take stern action against PIOs that refuse to provide information to those who have sought.

Also, the Commission has asked all government departments and public authorities to put their policy decisions on their respective website.

"With this, the public can access the information from the government and public authorities without even fulfilling the required applications," he said.

Habibullah, however, said that use of the information act has exceeded the public expectations as everybody is asking for relevant information under the Act.

He added that the government has not been able to keep a rapid pace with it and is therefore under heavy pressure to provide information within 30 days as provided under the Act.

The CIC also went on to the extent of saying that public has become more demanding and asking for any sort of information which has built up even a case for contempt and if the flow continues, the Commission would move and file a contempt case with relevant bodies.

The Chief Information Commissioner admitted that publicity and awareness among public about Right to Information Act has yet to be percolated as a large section of people are not adequately aware of it in the absence of adequate publicity campaign.

Interestingly, he said that in the rural segment, particularly people below poverty line (BPL) are much more aware about the right to information act as nearly 10 per cent of such a lot in the countryside is making use of this Act to obtain relevant information from public authorities.

Habibullah said that the government machinery is learning to get used with the Act as its enactment was done only in 2005 and it is because of this reason that sometimes, the dissemination of information takes time beyond 30 days as provided in the Act.

Seeking public participation to cooperate with the government, the the Chief Information Commissioner urged the masses not to seek those information that have no relevance as it would ease out the pressure on the government.

Speaking at the seminar, Assocham Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Suman Jyoti Khaitan offered the facilities of Assocham in consultation with NGOs to popularise the salient features of the Right to Information Act.

He further said that in doing so, a larger section of society would gain out of it as the Act would bring about a revolution in India in public participation with government for good governance.
â€”iGovernment Bureau

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Submitted by P. Narasimhulu on 10/18/2008 - 04:26:53 AM.

While penelising the PIOs it has to taken into consideration that the PIOs are intentionally denying the information. If they are intentionally denying the required information, in addition to penelisation, disciplinary action by the concerned department should also recommended by the CIC.P.NarasimhuluSecretayVESTAL, Guntur, A.P

Submitted by rajesh kumar on 04/27/2008 - 10:11:00 AM.

Only penalty is not sufficient. Imposing imprisonment is necessary for transparent and efficient administration.

Submitted by Vijay Kumar on 04/18/2008 - 09:49:00 AM.

It is one of the excellent steps by Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah. The offenders should be punished severly.this is happening in almost everywhere in India

THE WORSE IS HAPPENING AT LOWER LEVEL/VILLAGE LEVEL

At village level nobody knows what are the rules and information regarding certain, policies of state government. The VILLAGE PRADHAN is most corrupt member of the society, he do what he likes and says that he has the right to do, he never displays any of the information regarding any of the policies in the gram Panchayat office.

My suggestion is that the government should appoint a government officer, working under PIO, who WILL ENSURE that --EACH DEATILED INFORMATION IS BEING DISPLAYED ON THE NOTICE BOARD-- MINIMUM AT--VILLAGE LEVEL.

The MOST IGNORANT MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY IS ALWAYS THE POOR ILLITERARE PROPLE,EVEN THE EDUCATED ONCE AT VILLAGE LEVEL IS NOT AWARE OF THE MINIMUM-RULES REGARDING THE BASIC-ISSUESâ€”LIKE

1. What is NAREGA, rules and regulations etc, other govt. schemes?
2. WHETHER THE WORKER SHOULD BE PAID FOR SUNDAY ALSO.
3. MINIMUM WAGE.
4. Who can also get the NAREGA work done? GRAM PANCHAYAT member or UP PRADHAN or any other.
5. Why all work is being done in the AREA/VILLAGE of --GRAM PANCHAYAT-- PRADHAN ONLY, WHY NOT IN OTHER AREAS fairly.
AT THE VILLAGE LEVEL THE PRADHAN IS ACTING LIKE A DICTATER.
6. He makes the ration card of the people he likes, not others.
7. People are yet to make toilets in the village, but the --clean chit for, completion of toilets are given by him-- secretly to the officer coming to inspect the toilet in the village. He convinces the officer and the Panchayat gets the BOARD OF ''SWACCH PANCHAYAT''/'NIRMAL PANCHAYAT'.
8. He selects his own people in the --BPL/PDS, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE HAVING -CONCRETE HOUSES AND RUNNING SHOPS.

WHAT ARE THE CRETERIA-- ARE NOT DISPLAYED IN THE PANCHAYAT DISPLAY BOARD, EVEN THERE IS NO DISPLAY BOARD IN THE GRAM PANCHAYAT BHAWAN.

9. RECENTLY THE VILLAGE PRADHAN MOTIVATED HIS LOBBY AND -DID NOT ALLOW THE ''GRAM SABHA TO FUNTION(THOUGH THE MINIMUM MEMBERS WERE 117 PRESENT IN THE MEETING - WHEN IT WAS THE DAY TO DECIDE /TO --REINVESTIGATE THE BPL/PDS PEOPLE AGAIN BY THE NEW HIMACHAL GOVERNMENT.

FRANKLY SPEAKING NOBODY CARE TO SEE THESE ISSUES.THEY REMAINED CONFINED TO â€“ONLY WRITING/OPINIONS AND ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPERS/INTERNET ,MAGAZINES TO JUST KNOW PEOPLE AND THE THE ISSUES TO DISCUSS OCCASIONALLY FOR PASSTIME.

Few people of the society are playing with the lives of the poor people the way they want.

There are thousands of issues like that in every village.

I would request Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah to pass strict order to implement the ---- RTI Act in the whole nation especially in GRAM PANCHAYAT DHAR of CHAUNTRA BLOCK,JOGINDER NAGAR, MANDI DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH.

THANK YOU BEST REGARDS

VIJAY KUMAR,
GRAM PANCHAYAT DHAR,
CHAUNTRA BLOCK, JOGINDER NAGAR, MANDI,
HIMACHAL PRADESH
PIN-176120

Submitted by N.A.Shah Ansari on 04/17/2008 - 19:37:00 PM.

As per my experience CIC is not active as need of the hour. May there is some dificulties in process or ICs are not interested to penalize Govt Officials. A Review needed on Work Process of CIC.We should not be too happy that 120 RTI deffenders are penalised, but have to think how many job seekers waiting for justice in veranda of CIC, & from how long. I m confused on future of RTI if this process will continue like this in CIC & SICs. All should stand up.

Submitted by Rajpal on 04/17/2008 - 18:38:00 PM.

Imposing panality to PIOs is necessary and it works in terms of making that public authority more accountable. There has been many cases where after panelising one PIO others improved their functioning and the whole department started providing inormation on time. But at level of State Information Commissions, it was found that SIC are taking soft corner towards PIOs and not imposing any panelity. This not only giving wrong massage but also leaving question to the effectiveness of RTI. I personally think that if the information commissions take agressive stand, RTI will be very effective tool in making the institutions transparent and accountable and will improve the functioning of public authorities.

Rajpal
State Coordinator,
Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA)
Jharkhand (Ranchi)

Submitted by Nagaraju NVV on 04/15/2008 - 23:57:00 PM.

The violaters of RTI Act must be punished. Intentionally they are violating the RTI Act not giving the required information in time showing the lame excuses. As rightly pointed out by the CIC that the awareness among public about RTI Act has to be percolated so that large section of people benefitted by the provisions of RTI Act. It is also interesting that the rural section of people are using the RTI Act and getting the required information.
Taking the assistance of NGOs the Government may give wide publicity about the Act.

Nagaraju NVV
Trustee & General Secretary
Care and Concern Research Foundation (CCRF)
Vijayawada - AP

Submitted by ved prkash sangwan on 04/15/2008 - 20:15:00 PM.

The only fine is not sufficient but the erring officer shall be punished for imprisonment also to make the Act effective.

Submitted by Naresh Kadyan on 04/15/2008 - 17:50:00 PM.

Adverse remarks also be given in the ACR's of these tainted officials, there should be transparency in the system & administration but this act is not so much effective in private sector..... needs special attention.

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