PANAJI
The Goa State Information Commission has directed the Public Information Officer (PIO) of Corporation of the City of Panaji to show cause for causing harassment to the applicant by furnishing the information which was readily available, after a considerable delay.
Also, the CCP has been directed to pay compensation to the applicant.
State Information Commissioner Sanjay Dhavalikar, in a recently delivered judgment held the PIO guilty for the delay as well as not offering any justification for not furnishing the information within the stipulated period of 30 days.
The same PIO earlier in a similar matter was warned for not complying with the provisions of the RTI Act.
In spite of the earlier warning PIO Siddesh Naik failed to provide information within 30 days, which compelled the applicant to approach the appellate authority. Such an arrogant conduct in violation of the provisions of the RTI Act is not acceptable, hence, show cause notice needs to be issued to the PIO seeking his explanation on why penalty should not be imposed against him, Dhavalikar stated in his order.
