Plea to Pondy CS on action against official

Puducherry, Jun 24 (UNI)Federation for People's Rights Secretary G Sugumaran today urged the Chief Secretary to initiate action against the Public Information Officer,Chief Secretariate here, who refused to provide information sought under the Right to Information Act.

In a statement here, Mr Sugumaran said the Opposition parties had lodged a compaint with the Centre on alleged misuse of powers by Puducherry Tourism Minister Malladi Krishana Rao in getting permission for setting up a gas plant in Yanam Region.

The Union Home Ministry had directed the Chief Secretary and other senior officials to enquire the matter and send a report to it.

Instead of taking action against the 'corrupt Minister,' the officials here were trying to protect him, he alleged.

In this scenario, Mr Sugumaran said he sought information about the Union Home Ministry's direction and details of the reply, if any, given by the Puducherry Chief Secretary and also details of the files relating to the permission given to set up the plant in Yanam.

The Public Information Officer however, 'opened the post, read it and returned the same' thereby refusing to provide the details sought under RTI Act,he alleged.

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