State Information Commissioner C. Madhukar Raj imposed a penalty of Rs.1,22,500 on Public Information Officers in 19 cases in the month of December.
Show cause notices
The Information Commissioner who heard and disposed of 79 show cause notices cases, imposed fine on the PIOs for failing to act and deal diligently with the applications received from the citizens for information under the Right To Information Act.
A release from the State Information Commission said that Mr.Madhukar Raj heard a total of 253 appeal and complaint cases and disposed of 251 cases in December. In the last six months, he heard 1,429 appeal and complaint cases and disposed of 1,427 cases and imposed penalties against PIOs in 128 cases.
Application fee
Meanwhile, the State Information Commission clarified that a request for obtaining information should be accompanied by an application fee either by affixing court fee stamps or by way of cash or post order or Demand Draft.
While no application will be charged in respect of public authorities at village level, Rs.5 will be collected per application at Mandal level public authorities.
In other areas, the application fee would be Rs.10 per application.
