TURA, Oct 2 - Meghalaya Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) PB Warjri has sought answers from the Horticulture Department of the South Garo Hills district as to why it should not be penalised for failing to provide answers to an RTI application filed by the AYWO.
The AYWO had complained to the CIC after failing to get a response to its queries from the Horticulture Department for close to six months. On the other hand, the Horticulture Department had threatened to file a case against the NGO for using the RTI to seek information on various schemes.
A complaint to the CIC was filed by the NGO on July 23 with the CIC hearing the case on September 19. The AYWO had filed the RTI on March 6, 2018.
�The applicant went to the office in Baghmara, SGH after the statutory period of 30 days was over to enquire on the information. The office assistant replied that the person who received the application had been transferred and the application had been misplaced. On hearing this, the applicant filed a fresh application. However, the office assistant refused to accept the application stating that the PIO was not in office,� the CIC inquiry stated.
�There is sufficient ground for inquiry into this instant complaint,� stated the CIC.
A notice to show cause has now been issued to the Horticulture PIO as well as the UDA. Further, the office will now have to explain as to why a penalty should not be awarded to them for failing to provide the information in time as well as the refusal of the UDA to receive the RTI application.
The proceedings of the same hearing, which were sent to the AYWO (CGB) through post, were received on October 1.
