Delay in RTI info: Central commission warns Bhalwal official for violating RTI Act
The Central Information Commission has warned a former tehsildar for providing delayed information to an information seeker. The CIC expressed displeasure and warned that future lapses would attract penal action. The warning came after advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed moved an RTI application seeking information on state land occupied by former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta. The former tehsildar apologized for the delay and requested the show cause proceedings against him be dropped. The CIC accepted his explanation but warned against future lapses.
In a significant order, a bench of the Central Information Commission at New Delhi headed by chief information commissioner YK Sinha has warned the then Bhalwal tehsildar Amit Upadhayay for providing delayed information to the information seeker advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed.
Advocate Ahmed had moved an RTI application on April 7, 2021, seeking information with regard to the state land comprised in khasra number 1789 situated in Ghaink village of Bhalwal tehsil, under the alleged illegal occupation of former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta.
While expressing displeasure over the conduct of the then Bhalwal tehsildar, the CIC directed that such lapses in future will attract necessary penal action as per the RTI Act-2005.
The CIC, while disposing of the second appeal filed by Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed on January 20, had issued an explanation to Upadhayay to justify the delay in supplying the information to the information seeker and also directed as to why penal action be not initiated against him for violation of the mandated timeline as provided under the RTI Act-2005.
Upadhayay filed his reply to the show cause notice and tendered unconditional apology for delay in providing the information to the appellant.
{{/usCountry}}Upadhayay filed his reply to the show cause notice and tendered unconditional apology for delay in providing the information to the appellant.
{{/usCountry}}He further requested the CIC that his explanation be accepted and the show cause proceedings against him be dropped.
{{/usCountry}}He further requested the CIC that his explanation be accepted and the show cause proceedings against him be dropped.
{{/usCountry}}Sinha after considering the explanation of Upadhyay observed and directed that in view of the explanation on the violation of the RTI Act is condoned on the occasion and the show cause proceedings against him is hereby dropped. However, the CIC while expressing displeasure warned Upadhayay that such lapses in future will attract necessary penal action as per the RTI Act.
{{/usCountry}}Sinha after considering the explanation of Upadhyay observed and directed that in view of the explanation on the violation of the RTI Act is condoned on the occasion and the show cause proceedings against him is hereby dropped. However, the CIC while expressing displeasure warned Upadhayay that such lapses in future will attract necessary penal action as per the RTI Act.
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