The state information commission has issued a show-cause notice to the executive officer (EO) of the Bassi Pathana municipal council (MC) for not providing complete information to one Sukhminder Pal of the same town.
During the recent hearing of the case, state information commissioner Parveen Kumar observed that during the last hearing on April 18, the public information officer-cum-EO of the Bassi Pathana MC was asked to attend the next hearing but none was present on his behalf and no intimation had been received explaining the reason for his absence.
The commissioner said: “After hearing the complainant and perusing the record available, it seems that the PIO had delayed/denied information to the seeker. In view of this, the EO will show cause in writing or through affidavit under Section 20 (1) of the RTI Act, as to why penalty be not imposed upon him for willful delay/denial of the information to the RTI applicant.”
The PIO was also given an opportunity of a personal hearing before the imposition of such penalty on the next date of hearing. “He may note that in case he does not file his submission and does not avail himself of the opportunity of personal hearing on the next date, it will be presumed that he has nothing to say and the commission will proceed to take further proceedings against him ex-parte,” the commissioner added.
The case would now come up for hearing on June 17.
The PIO was also given an opportunity of a personal hearing before the imposition of such penalty on the next date of hearing. “He may note that in case he does not file his submission and does not avail himself of the opportunity of personal hearing on the next date, it will be presumed that he has nothing to say and the commission will proceed to take further proceedings against him ex-parte,” the commissioner added.
The case would now come up for hearing on June 17.