CIC asks Kunte to take action against civic officials for violating RTI Act
Mumbai Mirror Bureau
State Chief Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaekwad has asked Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte to take action against the officials of Building Proposals Department of KWest Ward for their reluctance to provide information under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI application was filed by Andheri resident Jyoti Punwani in March, and it was related to a building being constructed by M/S Aditi Constructions in Andheri. Instead of providing Punwani with the file, the civic officials asked her to come and inspect the documents.
Having received no information at all, she filed her second appeal to the State Chief Information Commission.
Interestingly, just before the second appeal hearing was to take place, Punwani received a CD of a file by speed post. The CD, however, did not pertain to the building she was interested in.
Having heard the BMC officers -- PIO F K Kshirsagar and assistant engineer Sankhe --- Gaekwad passed an order under Section 20 (2) of the RTI Act and asked Kunte to inquire into the case.
In his order dated October 22, he has stated that the PIO has “without any reasonable cause and persistently, delayed and evaded” providing the information asked for. The Commissioner must, therefore, conduct a comprehensive inquiry, find out the officers responsible for this, and take disciplinary action against them.”
Kunte has been asked to report on the action taken against the officers concerned by December 31.
State Chief Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaekwad has asked Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte to take action against the officials of Building Proposals Department of KWest Ward for their reluctance to provide information under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI application was filed by Andheri resident Jyoti Punwani in March, and it was related to a building being constructed by M/S Aditi Constructions in Andheri. Instead of providing Punwani with the file, the civic officials asked her to come and inspect the documents.
Dissatisfied with the order, she filed her first appeal. At the hearing, however, she was neither given the file nor a copy of the order passed on that occasion by the First Appellate Authority R S Madiwal.
Having received no information at all, she filed her second appeal to the State Chief Information Commission.
Interestingly, just before the second appeal hearing was to take place, Punwani received a CD of a file by speed post. The CD, however, did not pertain to the building she was interested in.
Having heard the BMC officers -- PIO F K Kshirsagar and assistant engineer Sankhe --- Gaekwad passed an order under Section 20 (2) of the RTI Act and asked Kunte to inquire into the case.
In his order dated October 22, he has stated that the PIO has “without any reasonable cause and persistently, delayed and evaded” providing the information asked for. The Commissioner must, therefore, conduct a comprehensive inquiry, find out the officers responsible for this, and take disciplinary action against them.”
Kunte has been asked to report on the action taken against the officers concerned by December 31.
