Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 15: Last year the State Information Commission (SIC) had directed Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to initiate departmental inquiry against Executive Engineer (T) for unnecessary delay in furnishing the information under J&K RTI Act 2009 related to purchase of medicines for Animal Birth Control (ABC) in Jammu area. It is alleged that more than 6 months have elapsed and the inquiry is yet to be initiated.
Details available with Early Times reveal that one Devinder Kour Madaan, President SAVE a Non Govermental Organization (NGO) based in Jammu had moved an application on 13.04.2015 before the PIO/Secretary, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) under the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information Act, 2009 wherein she sought certain information relating to any schedule made by the Jammu Municipal Corporation for animal birth control programme for different localities within the limits of Jammu Municipality including staff engaged/deputed for the animal birth control programme (ABC) in Roop Nagar area of Jammu
The appellant feeling aggrieved of inaction on the part of PIO filed first appeal dated: 21.05.2015, before the First Appellate Authority/Municipal Commissioner, JMC. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) disposed of the first appeal vide No. MJ/Estt./2787-91 dated: 29.06.2015 with the direction to the PIO and Chief Accounts Officer, JMC, Municipal Veterinary Officer, JMC and Chief Transport Officer, JMC to take all necessary steps and ensure that the information be provided to the applicant within a period of two weeks from the date of passing of the order. In the meantime the appellant received information from the PIO and she has alleged in her 2nd before SIC appeal dated: 24.08.2015 that the information provided by the PIO is incomplete, incorrect.
The appellant further Alleged before SIC that she had asked about the bills of all the medicines purchased by the Department for the birth control programme, during the last one month and the PIO avoided the query on a flimsy ground by stating that the bills of the medicines are still not reimbursed.
Some Information pertained to the Executive Engineer, Town Hall (XEn -T), JMC and the PIO transferred the application to the Executive Engineer, Town Hall, JMC on 24.04.2015. The records shows that Arvind Gupta, Executive Engineer (T), JMC furnished the information to the PIO/Secretary, JMC vide office No. MJ/15-16/Tech/T/2015 dated: 22.08.2015 and the said information was further transferred to the information seeker vide office No. JMC/S/RTI/761 dated: 04.09.2015. It clearly shows that there has been delay of about 04 months in furnishing the requisite information, sought by the information seeker, especially the component relating to Arvind Gupta, Executive Engineer (T), JMC.
SIC 's Sept 2015 order had said :"In view of the aforesaid facts and observations, the Law Officer, JMC and Municipal Veterinary Officer, JMC are hereby directed to furnish the revised information to the information seeker, answering all the queries raised in the RTI application, free of cost,within one week from the date of receipt of this order, under an intimation to the Commission. The Municipal Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation is further directed to monitor the case of the appellant personally so that the directions passed by the Commission are complied in letter and spirit". |
