SHILLONG: The Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) last year had to pay a penalty of Rs 3000 following its failure to provide the sought information to an applicant under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The revelation was made in the 7th annual report of Meghalaya Information Commission which was tabled in the House during the first day of the Autumn Session on Friday.
As per the report, Rev Zombolis Sawkmie had complained before the Commission that he had sought information which relates to a project proposal sent to the Union Government through the state Health Department for a public health medical laboratory network with affordable services for Meghalaya and epidemiology research cell bases at an allied health training institute at MLCU, Shillong with monitoring by Christian Medical College, Vellore.
The claim for denial in this case was on the basis of section 8 (1) (d) as it contains confidential document and trade secret which is the copyright of the University and the disclosure would harm their project.
“There is nothing which shows the proposal is confidential and revelations would harm the interest of MLCU. On the contrary, the project is meant for public and they have the right to know whether it will be suitable and beneficial for the state,” the Chief Information Commissioner CD Kynking said.
According to Kynjing, the Commission is convinced that information has been denied without intimation to the applicant as required under section 7 (1) of the RTI Act, 2005.
The Commission later also imposed a penalty of Rs 3000 on the PIO of MLCU Maxwell Lyngdoh for the delay of twelve days which was to be paid within 30 days from the date of the order.
The PIO was also asked to furnish the required information free of cost within a period of 15 days with intimation to the Commission.