Delay on account of shortage of staff
4 Dec, 2011Background
A former PIO appeared before the Commission for personal hearing against the show cause notice for imposition of penalty. He stated that while was holding the post of Deputy Director (OSB), he had made more than one dozen representations to his seniors to appoint persons against the current posts because on account of acute shortage of staff, RTI and court cases were being delayed. The copies of the representations were enclosed for the perusal of the Commission several of which were endorsed by Dir (L). The PIO stated that he is soon to retire and he feared that delays caused on account of lack of staff could attract adverse remarks on his performance before his retirement.
View of CIC
The Commission heard the averments of the respondent and accepted the same as credible. The proposed penalty proceedings against the PIO were dropped. However the Commission held that it cannot be denied that the appellant has suffered harassment due to information not been provided to him within stipulated time period. Due to delay in providing information, the Appellant has lost opportunity of filing case before appropriate Court on account of the matter becoming time barred. Accordingly the Commission directed DDA to pay compensation of Rs. 10,000 (Rupees Ten Thousand) to the appellant for the detriment caused to him on account of not providing information to him within the prescribed time as per the RTI Act.
Citation: Shri Sunil Kant v. DDA in Appeal: No. CIC/DS/A/2011/000351 & CIC/DS/A/2011/000352