RTI delay: Showcause notices to MC officers

LUDHIANA: Its apparent reluctance to part with information has once again spelt trouble for the municipal corporation. Irked over its failure in getting things moving, despite directions by State Information Commission, a showcause notice has been issued to the assistant public information officers (APIO) of all four zones.
Rohit Sabharwal of an NGO, Anti Corruption and Crime Investigation Cell, reportedly sought information regarding roads from the civic body.However, after MC reportedly failed to supply relevant information to him, Sabharwal moved SIC. The hearing of the case was fixed for October 20. During that, the state information commissioner, Surinder Singh, issued directions to the public information officer (PIO) to supply complete information before the next date of hearing. During the next hearing on December 29, it was decided after the arguments that the respondent would supply information relating to the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 within a period of one month.
However, the commissioner said though the case was heard on October 20, the PIO did not supply the information to him. Taking a serious view to the point raised by the respondent that the information was voluminous and could not be supplied under Section 7(9) of RTI Act, the commissioner said the commission felt that the respondent was not taking interest in supplying information and that it did not care for the orders passed by the commission.
He, therefore, issued showcause notices to APIOs R P Gupta of zone A, Rahul Gagneja of zone B, Ramesh Garg of zone C and V V Khanna of zone D of MC. The officers have been asked why penalty should not be imposed upon them under Section 20(1) of RTI Act, 2005, for delay in supplying information. He also directed them to showcause why suitable compensation be not awarded to the complainant under Section 19(8) (b) of RTI Act, for the detriment and loss suffered by him on account of delay in the supply of information.