Karaibou Chawang
KOHIMA | JULY 4
Nagaland Information Commission has imposed a penalty of Rs 10,500 each to the PIOs of three departments – Soil & Water Conservation, Chief Engineer office, Public Health Engineering, Chief Engineer office (PWD) for not furnishing information within the prescribed time limit, while a show-cause notice has been issued to the PIO of the Forest, Ecology, Environment and Wild Life to respond within ten days as to why he should not be penalize under section 20 (I) of the RTI.
The appeal was made by Nagaland Govt. Registered Class-I Contractors Union before the NIC through its president KC Angami and Legal Kezhokoto Savi seeking details information on supply and construction works. However, the PIOs failed to provide the require information within the stipulated time, it said. The commission penalized the PIO of Soil and Water Conservation department with a sum of Rs 10,500, Rs 250 per day, fine for delaying the information for 42 days, which is to be paid in two installments to the government treasury. Sources said the PIO will deposit the first installment on or before August 3, and the second installment latest by September 3.
The commission also imposed the same amount on the PIO of the PHE Chief Engineer office for failing to furnish the information within the prescribed time limit of 30 days without reasonable cause as specified in section 7(I) of the RTI. Under the provision of the said section the PIO is liable to pay a penalty of Rs 250 per day subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000. PIO of PWD Chief Engineer office (Housing) was also penalize with a sum of Rs 10,500 for not furnishing the information. Although the PIO appeared before the commission, the reason put forth was not convincing enough to exempt him from paying the fine, it said.
Savi disclosed that the on July 4, the NIC had directed the PCCF to show-cause in writing as to why the penalty under section 20 (I) of RTI should not be apportioned to him for failing to provide the information sought by NGRC-I regarding the supply and construction works allotted since January 2006. Savi also said the hearing was conducted on several occasion covering all these public authorities in the presence of the Chief Information Officer, Information Commissioner, concerned PIOs and him as the legal advisor to the appellant.
Morung Express News
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