Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jun 13: Karnataka State Information Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 on Mundoor village development officer (PDO), Sujata, for the second time.

The commission had ordered Sujata to appear before it for hearing on April 17. But she had overlooked this directive. The commission, taking serious view of this lapse, imposed the above fine, and ordered Puttur taluk panchayat executive officer to recover this fine in two equal installments and credit the same to the treasury.

The penalty relates to a query made by John Pinto from Mareelu in Kemminje village under Mundoor gram panchayat, seeking details of drinking water connections. The PDO had not responded to it. John Pinto approached the state information commission, after which commissioner, M R Pujar, imposed a penalty of Rs 6,000 on the PDO on January 12, 2015.

As the PDO continued to overlook the issue, the commission imposed fine again on her. The commission has asked confirmation about the recovery of this fine, by June 15 this year.

It may be recalled that the state high court, through an order dated April 13 this year, had stayed operation of the order of fine imposed on Sujata by information commission.