MARGAO
The Goa State Information Commissioner Sanjay Dhavalikar has imposed a penalty on the Salcete Mamlatdar, who is the Public Information Officer (PIO) under the Right to Information Act, to pay a penalty of Rs 6,000 for contravention of section 7 (1) of the Act and for not complying with the order of the Commission.
The order passed by the SIC further stated that the amount of penalty shall be deducted from the salary of the PIO in two installments of equal amount of Rs 3,000 each, beginning from the salary of the month of December 2022 to January 2023. The amount shall be credited to the government treasury.
The Registry has been directed to send copy of the order to the Chief Secretary for information and appropriate action.
In this case, complainant Querobino Gomes had sought certain information from the PIO. Since he did not receive the complete information inspite of the direction of the First Appellate Authority, a second appeal was filed before the Commission.
While disposing of the appeal, the Commission had directed the PIO to furnish the remaining information. However, the direction was not complied by the PIO, prompting the complainant to approach the Commission by way of complaint under section 18 of the Act.
After hearing the parties, SIC Sanjay Dhavalikar concluded that the PIO is guilty of not adhering to the direction of the appellate Authority designated under the Act and for contravention of section 7(1) of the Act. “It is seen that the PIO has not furnished the information sought by the appellant, not compiled with the direction of the commission, not appeared before the Commission during the penalty proceeding and has not filed any reply to justify his action. Such as adamant approach and complete disrespect towards the provisions of the Act by the PIO is deplorable and hence cannot be pardoned,” the SIC observed, adding further that the Commission is no way can subscribe to such a shameful conduct.
