Horti officer refutes denial of RTI

TURA: The District Horticultural Officer (DHO) in South Garo Hills has refuted claims by the A’chik Youth Welfare Organization (AWYO) that it had refused to provide information to an RTI filed with the department claiming that it had never received any such application.
“As per the RTI Act, only the PIO has the authority to receive the application and not any ministerial staff, peon or chowkidar. And as the PIO has neither received nor has any knowledge of the application, replying to their queries does not arise,” the official said.
Asserting that the department is meant for helping the farmers of the district, the official invited the organisation to meet officials concerned with RTI and assured that all necessary information will be provided to them.
On the allegation of unprofessional behavior by the staff, the official claimed no leader belonging to the organisation from Siju had neither visited the office nor met any of the officials.
On Monday, the AYWO had accused the department of deliberately withholding information with regard to Central and state government schemes which was sought for in an RTI filed earlier in March.
The organisation had also claimed that one of its members who had gone to inquire about the RTI was intimidated with the threat of ‘arrest’ by the staff.
It had also threatened to file a PIL against the department if reply to the RTI was not furnished within 10 days beginning from July 18.