State Information Commissioner K.M. Chandre Gowda has issued notices to 11 officials of the district administration for failing to provide information under Right To Information (RTI) Act.
Conducting the appellate board hearing at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Friday, Mr. Gowda took exception to the functioning of the 11 officials and directed them to appear before the commission in Bengaluru by May 5. He also sought to know why a fine of ₹25,000 on each of these officials should not be imposed for failing to give information sought by RTI applicants. He asked the officials to go through the RTI Act, if they did not have proper understanding of it.
The Information Commissioner heard 58 appeals and disposed of 47 among them and issued show-cause notice in eleven cases. He said based on the statement by the officials before the commission, a decision on whether to impose the fine or not would be taken.
Special privilege
Later, elaborating on RTI Act, he said applicants had been given special privilege of inspecting 33 departments to get information sought by them, particularly when the information sought is voluminous in nature. The applicants could visit the department and verify the documents, he said.
He said when applicants visited the department, inspection for first 15 minutes would be free and then ₹10 would be charged for every 30 minutes.
But for BPL cardholders, first one hour inspection time is free of cost, he said, adding that it had been suggested to upload all information on the website and provide the link to the RTI applicant.
Mr. Gowda said a time limit of 30 days had been set for providing information.
