By Our Reporter
Shillong: The State Information Commission has imposed penalties on some officials for not providing timely information to the complainants seeking reply under the RTI Act 2005.
As per the annual report of the Meghalaya State Information Commission for 2011 tabled in the House here on Wednesday, two officials were penalised for the delay in providing information on time.
C Nongspung, Joint Director (Supply), East Khasi Hills had to submit Rs 20,500 as penalty for not providing information to the complainant – Tur Khongmawloh of Pynursla – while C Kharshiing, Public Information Officer of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), was penalised Rs 5,750 for the inconvenience caused to the RTI applicant – Richard Jana of Nongthymmai.
The State Information Commission is empowered under the RTI Act, 2005 to direct the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered in the process of getting access to information.
During the year 2011, the Commission had awarded payment of compensation of Rs 1,500 to an RTI applicant, SK Sharma of Guwahati, after he failed to get the information which he had sought from the PIO of the Mining and Geology department, CK Marak.
Freewelson Nyalang of Jaintia Hills was also paid a compensation of Rs 4000 following the failure to get the required information from the PIO of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).