Fine against TMC engineer for not replying to RTI query

THANE: The Konkan division state information commissioner has slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on an executive engineer from the Mumbra division, attached to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), for not furnishing information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
While hearing an appeal challenging the TMC for not revealing information under RTI, Thanksy Thekkekara, state information commissioner (Konkan division), asked the engineer to pay Rs 500 to the RTI applicant from Mumbra.The order mentions that TMC must deduct Rs 5,000 from the salary of the engineer to be deposited in the civic kitty.
RTI applicant Mohammed Yusuf Khan alleged that the public works department engineer, TMC, did not furnish information on the query put forth by him pertaining to a road in Mumbra. “I had filed an RTI asking how many times a road in Mumbra was dug up and what was the expenditure incurred for the purpose. But the public information officer of TMC did not furnish any information. Even, the first appellate authority did not give any information. I finally challenged the order with the information commissioner,” said Khan.