State Information Commissioner P. Vijaya Babu on Sunday demanded that the State government order an inquiry into alleged irregularities committed by Guntur District Revenue Officer (DRO) K. Nagababu.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Vijaya Babu said the DRO did not respond to petitions filed under RTI Act in 78 cases. “When any applicant insists on a reply, the DRO refuses to divulge information on the pretext that records are damaged,” Mr. Vijaya Babu said. He said several applicants sought information from the DRO about forged pattadar passbooks, parking woes at cinema theatres, unauthorised constructions at Bhavani Island etc. but there was no response till date.
The DRO acted according to his whims and fancies as he allegedly enjoyed the support of a couple of elected representatives in the district, he said adding the government should take stern action against revenue officers who faced allegations.
He expressed displeasure over the officials for their failure to update information pertaining to RTI Act on website in the districts. “Of the 13 districts, three do not have websites while six others failed to link it to RTI and the rest failed to provide information about the RTI cases,” he explained.
He requested the government to take steps to update the district websites and provide information about RTI, he said. He added efforts were on to extend legal help to applicants who could not get proper information from the public information officer and other officials concerned in the departments.
Of the 13 districts, three do not have websites, while six others failed to link to RTI and the rest failed to provide information about the RTI cases
P. Vijaya Babu
State Information Commissioner
