Only a few PIOs of UP have paid the penalty imposed under RTI Act
12 Sep, 2012
The reply to an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by the Administrative Reforms Department of Uttar Pradesh (UP) has revealed that very few Public Information Officers (PIOs) have paid the penalty imposed by the Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission (SIC) for giving incomplete information, wrong information or for unexplained delays in providing information under RTI Act.
The data disclosed in the reply shows out of a total of 827 cases in which penalty amounting to Rs 1,89,31,050/- was imposed, only 18 PIOs deposited Rs 3.39 lakh to the state exchequer.
Based on the information provided under the RTI, the applicant has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Allahabad High Court. The division bench of the Court has issued notices to the SIC, the state government and the Administrative Reforms Department regarding the circumstances under which these fines were not realised.