Info panel imposes fine of Rs 20,250 on executive officer

Fatehgarh Sahib, Oct 10 (UNI) The Punjab State Information Commission has fined an executive officer of Rs 20,250 for not providing information under Right to Information Act.

Information commissioners R K Gupta and PPS Gill imposed fine on Sukhdev Singh, executive officer, Municipal Council, Rampura Phul in Bathinda district as he failed to provide the information, on time, sought by lawyer Amandeep Goyal, a resident of Rampura Phul.

The complainant had asked for a photocopy of the gazette notification issued by the Punjab Government. However the department took four months in supplying information.

Sukhdev Singh, EO, Municipal Council, Rampura Phul also did not bothered to appear in person or send any body before the Commission on July 13, August 6 and September 3. The EO finally appeared before the Information Commission on October 1.

The Commission took serious view of such negligence on his part and fined him at the rate of Rs 250 per day from July 13, 2007 to October 1, 2007 subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000.

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner has been asked to recover the amount from the EO's salary in four equal monthly installments.

UNI