Daijiworld Media Network (SP)

Puttur, Apr 14: The state High Court, through an order issued on Monday April 13, has stayed operation of an order through which Karnataka State Information Commission had imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 on panchayat development officer (PDO) of Mundoor gram panchayat, Sujata. Concluding that Sujata, who also happens to the information officer of the gram panchayat, had failed to convince it about the delay in providing information sought as per application filed under Right to Information Act (RTI), the commission had imposed the said fine on her.

John Pinto, an RTI activist and resident of Mottetadka in the taluk, had sought information on drinking water connections in the said gram panchayat. In response, the panchayat officials had asked him to personally come to the office, and get information after making payment of prescribed fee. Pinto sent a letter,objecting to the condition of personal attendance, and also on the need to pay charges for getting information. As he did not get any response to this letter, he appealed to Puttur taluk panchayat executive officer, who happens to be the appellate authority. As he failed to get the needed information even after this action, he approached Information Commission for relief.

The commission thereafter asked the PDO to provide the information sought free of cost to the applicant, and also sought explanation for showing negligence towards application made under RTI act. The PDO failed to provide any convincing explanation for the delay. Considering this lapse seriously, Karnataka Information commissioner, M R Pujar, levied a fine of Rs 6,000 on the PDO.

Through an application filed in the High Court, PDO, Sujata, said that on June 13, 2013, when an application was made under RTI Act, in-charge secretary, Purushotham Maniyani, had received the application, as she was on leave. She said she was not aware about the receipt of the said application. The High Court, upholding the plea, stayed the order of the Information Commission.