Asom PWD chief reprimanded for RTI violation

Guwahati, July 5 (UNI) The Chief Engineer PWD (Roads) became the first casualty of the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) in Asom as he was reprimanded for violations of the law at a hearing today.

State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) R S Musharry conducted the half-an-hour hearing at his office in the state secretariat on the basis of a complaint filed by North East Network coordinator Rhona Bhuyan and reprimanded Mr M C Boro.

Ms Anjuwara Begum, who represented the applicant today, told UNI that Ms Bhuyan had asked for information regarding the repairing of C K Agarwalla Road and J N Borooah Lane in Uzanbazar locality of the city through an application on March 27 to the Public Information Officer (PIO)/Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD).

However, not receiving any reply even after the mandatory 30 days, she visited the PWD office on June 15. The officials pleaded ignorance of any one in the department being appointed PIO.

She met another Chief Engineer, G C Bordoloi, who said he would not be able to entertain her application as she had not paid the necessary Rs 10 though Ms Bhuyan maintained that the office staff had refused receiving the money, saying that they were not authorised to take it.

Ms Begum further said that when Ms Bhuyan talked about approaching the CIC, Mr Bordoloi assured of a reply within three days.

Accordingly, she received a reply from Chief Engineer (Roads) M C Boro that the 'information was not under his jurisdiction'.

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