Information panel sends a notice to AIIMS

New Delhi, Apr 26: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has issued notice to the All India Instiutute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) seeking explanation why it should not be penalised for violating the Right to Information (RTI) Act with regard to an information sought by its former official.

The CIC in its last week's order has asked the AIIMS authorities why it had not replied to the said officer under RTI Act and said if it failed to reply to the notice within 15 days, proceedings for imposing penalty be initiated.

In his petition to the CIC, Mr B.K. Dash, former Chief, Protocol and Public Relations Officer of AIIMS said, "On October 5, 2002, the AIIMS authorities, through a conspiracy, divested me of my job responsibility without any reason or rhyme and sealed my office and personal belongings without intimation when I was away on a sanctioned leave".

The officer alleged that for past three years his dozens of letters, representations and personal submissions in this regard had elicited no response from the AIIMS authorities.

His three petitions under Rti Act and even his appeal to Appellate Authority of AIIMS on February 21, were ignored by the competent authority.

The officer claimed his personal belongings in the sealed office included 'valuable documents, passport, manuscripts and property papers and financial instruments worth Rs 30 lakh.

UNI