Notices to officials for not providing info under RTI

Jalandhar, Sep 1 (UNI) The Punjab State Information Commission (PSIC) has issued notices to state government officials in about a dozen cases filed before it regarding non-compliance of Right To Information (RTI) Act.

Talking to reporters here today, state Chief Information Commissioner Rajan Kashyap said these show cause notices had been issued against complaints or appeals filed before the commission against officials for not responding properly to the requests of complainants seeking certain information under the RTI Act.

He said the Commission enjoyed powers to award fine or pass stricture against defaulter officials for non compliance of the provisions of the RTI Act.

Mr Kashyap said that a total of 483 cases had so far been lodged before the commission since December last year. Of these, 63 are appeals filed against the decision of respondont officials on the complainants' requests while remaining 420 cases were complaints, under section 18 of the act, against the officials.

He said that 88 cases had already been disposed of during 27 hearings held by the commission so far.

Among cases lodged before the commission, a maximum of 70 cases were pertaining to affairs of panchyats and local bodies department, followed by universities and education department(51), police departement (41) and various district deputy commissioners (30), Mr Kashyap added.

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