SIC imposes fine on executive officer of Patti municipal council
2 Jul, 2013
An application was filed with the executive officer of Fatehgarh Churian Municipal Council under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details of the auction of shops conducted by the municipal council near the old bus stand, the new bus stand and the telephone exchange of Fatehgarh Churian.
The applicant received the information from the then EO of Fatehgarh Churian MC only after a delay of four months and that too incomplete for which the applicant complained in the Punjab state information commission alleging bungling in the auctions and demanding independent probe into the auctions. The commission issued a show cause notice to the concerned EO, now the EO of Patti MC, as to why action should not be taken against him for violating RTI Act. However, the EO could not provide satisfactory reply to the notice.
The SIC stated in its order that the complainant was entitled to access the information related to auctions done by the MC and denial of such information justifies his demand for independent investigation. The SIC also imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on the executive officer for failing to provide information to the applicant. It also stated that Rs. 5,000 be paid to the complainant as compensation.