Growing trend of indifference - CIC directs Revenue to conduct workshops to sensitise officers
By TIOL News Service
NEW DELHI, JUNE 26, 2017: THE Right to Information Act is now more than 12-year-old but the public administration continues to sulk over giving replies to even the most innocuous queries like what is the revenue target for a particular range?
While hearing an appeal in this case the CIC has observed that as per the proviso of section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act, 2005 it is very clear that - "the information, which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature shall not be denied to any person". However, the information-seeker was denied the basic information by resorting to an alibi - no public interest will be served!
Piqued by such indifferent by public authorities, the CIC has directed the Revenue Department to organise conferences or seminars so as to educate the officials about the relevant provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 for effectiuve discharge of its individual duties and responsibilities.
The CICI has also now issued a show cause notice to the officer why action should not be taken under the provisions of the Act for the misconduct and negligence and also directed JCIT to explain why penal action should not be taken u/s 20(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 within 20 days from the date of receipt of his order.
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