Pune Bench of State Information Commission says they don’t have power to seek compliance

Mr. M. H. Shah, State Information Commissioner of Pune Bench has said that the State Information Commission (SIC) have limitations while it comes to seek compliance to its order. Over the last six years, more than 200 PIOs have been fined upto Rs 25,000/- for delay in providing information sought under RTI Act but there is no mechanism to ensure that the imposed fines get collected.

As per M. H. Shah, the copies of the order are sent to the head of the respective department and it becomes the duty of the head of the department to ensure that the directives are followed and the amount are deposited in the government treasury. At this point of time, if the same is nor done, the SICs are helpless.

This condition creates a situation where the very existence of the SIC are being questioned. Some RTI activists have started raising voice about this statement which gives an impression of the RTI Act, 2005 being too weak. RTI activists have referred to the Bombay High Court order pointing out that constitutional authority can seek compliance of its directives making the way clear for the SICs to move in this direction.