Country's top forensic scientists slapped with penalty by CIC

A top forensic scientist has been slapped with a fine by the Central Information Commission for the delay in providing information sought by an RTI applicant.

A top forensic scientist has been slapped with a fine by the Central Information Commission for the delay in providing information sought by an RTI applicant.

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The Chief Information Commissioner, Wajahat Habibullah, has directed MS Rao, head of the Directorate of Forensic Sciences under Home Ministry, to pay a penalty of Rs 7,000 for a 28-day delay in providing information to the applicant.

In his order, Habibullah directed Joint Secretary NJS Kalra to recover the amount "either directly or through deduction from his (Rao's) salary" in two monthly installments starting July 3, 2009.

"It is clear that the initial information was sought in his capacity as CPIO when was Chief Forensic Scientist (at Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory). If in this capacity he has a number of responsibilities, it is not the applicant who should be taken to task by being made to wait for a response, but the officer himself who has taken on responsibility beyond his capacity," Habibullah said.

N S Pandey had filed an RTI application seeking certain information from Rao on January 25, 2007 but he allegedly provided "partial" information only on February 22, 2007.

Rao in his arguments said he was too preoccupied with work and gave his detailed schedule during the period seeking relief from the order but the plea was rejected.