Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 9: The State Information Commission (SIC) has put the CEO Doda who is also the Public Information Officer (PIO) of his department in the district on penalty notice for failing to respond to an RTI query. The SIC has further directed the CEO to provide information to the information seeker without any delay.
Details available with Early Times reveal that one Abdul Subhan Sheikh, a resident of Wazarat Road Jammu, had filed an RTI application dated: 09.09.2015 seeking some information under section 6 of J&K RTI Act, 2009 received in the Directorate of School Education, Jammu on 11.09.2015. The PIO-cum-Personnel Officer, Directorate of School Education, Jammu sought the assistance of Chief Education Officer (CEO), Doda in accordance with the provisions of the J&K RTI Act, 2009 as per his communication dated: DSEJ/RTI/2015/26368-70 dated: 12.09.2015. As the information seeker didn't receive any response within the stipulated time, he filed First Appeal dated: 24.10.2015, before the First Appellate Authority- Director, School Education Jammu (DSEJ). The said appeal remained unattended and Abdul Subhan Sheikh filed 2nd appeal before the State Information Commission (SIC)
The officer (CEO) whose assistance has been sought under section 5(4) of J&K RTI Act 2009 was required to pass an order under section 7, as expeditiously as possible, but not later than 30 days i.e. the outer limit for passing an order but he failed to give response to the appellant within time.
SIC in its order ruled, "As there is no response by the PIO/CEO, Doda namely Muhammad Ashraf Rather, therefore, the Commission treats him as PIO in default in view of section 5 of J&K RTI Act, 2009 and he is accordingly directed to explain why penalty under section 17 of the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009 may not be imposed on him for failing to give response to the information seeker within the period prescribed under the Act." |
